(PENSACOLA) – A public forum protest against an AI data center was all it took for one commissioner to draw up an ordinance banning it.
The Escambia County Board of Commissioners heard dozens of citizens speak against it, with Commissioner Lumon May acting immediately, promising an ordinance on the next agenda.
(Photo: Commissioner Lumon May at the June 17 meeting, where he promised to draft an ordinance against any AI data center)
"I will never support a data center," May said.
Both live and OpGov.News platform coverage report picked up the consistent demand for an immediate and permanent ban and "not a temporary moratorium or study."
However, FloridaWest, the group associated with a proposed data center, was also a voice amid the constant applause and frequent shouts against it.
(Photo: Resident after resident spoke against an AI data center at the BCC June 17 meeting)
CEO Chris Plate announced that the group is not in active talks with a large-scale data center, due to regional power limits and a new state law that requires large users to pay for their own infrastructure.
"They (data center in Escambia County) are not on our target list," Plate said.
(Photo: FloridaWest CEO Chris Plate telling the BCC, publicly his company has no plans to build a data center here)
But Plate's words did not stop residents from telling commissioners how they felt, beginning with Brandy Johnson, who started a petition with nearly 5.5K signatures.
Johnson said she represents 5,396 people who signed a petition opposing data centers.
“Data centers consume immense amounts of electricity and water,” Johnson said, adding they also cause regional drought and strain on power grids.
While Johnson also raised concerns about aquifer contamination and constant noise and light pollution, resident Crystal Partridge highlighted a Cornell University study, citing that AI data centers can raise nearby temperatures by up to 16°F within a six-mile radius.
We must reject projects that would increase suffering,” Partridge said.
The OpGov.News platform reports on dozens of speakers, including Dyasha Frank, who "argues AI data centers take jobs and are a threat to environmental, health, property, constitutional rights, and job security."
(OpGov.News platform summary of dozens of citizens who spoke against a proposed AI data center at the Escambia County Board of Commissioners meeting June 17)
Additionally, Cameron Brown, who "warns that data centers, if connected to the existing grid, will raise electricity costs for all residents in Escambia and Okaloosa counties, forcing them to subsidize the facilities unless the data centers operate on their own independent grid."
While many brought up environmental concerns, others noted jobs, with Carolyn Taylor, chair of the Escambia Soil and Water Conservation District, said they will not provide financial assistance to locals.
“The lack of promise and transparency around the long-term jobs should be an immediate disqualifier," Taylor said.
Nicholas Dinwiddie urged commissioners to read a Business Insider report that covers data center companies' use NDA’s and trade secrets to hide power and water use.
(Photo: Commissioner Steve Stroberger telling the public he does not want a data center in his neighborhood)
May is not the only one against data centers, with Commissioner Hofberger saying, "I don't think any of us are advocating for this."
Commissioner Steve Stroberger agrees.
"I don't want a data center or a transfer station in my neighborhood," Stroberger said.
Commissioner May said an "environmental" ban cannot happen at once, but reassured the public that commissioners will hold a public hearing on July 23 to place the law on the agenda so they can formally object to it.
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