(ESCAMBIA COUNTY) --- For weeks, Escambia County residents attended commission, planning, and FloridaWest meetings with the same request: ban AI data centers, define them in code, and pause approvals.
On Thursday, July 23, the Escambia County Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 to adopt a resolution stating data centers are not permitted in unincorporated Escambia, and scheduled a public hearing for an ordinance to add more restrictions.
The vote came after more than 20 residents spoke, many bringing emails and code language they said showed data center developers were already approaching the county.
Sarah Blankenship opened the public hearing by reading an October 2023 email from Tesla Group Owner Nanda Bihagi to Commissioner Mike Kohler regarding a data center.
"Commissioner, this is a huge opportunity for Century and Escambia County to get ahead of the curve on the next major wave of economic development," Blankenship read. "If you have any data center developers that you think would be a good fit, please let me know."
Commissioner Lumon May responded from the dais by asking Escambia County Administrator Wes Moreno if he had ever been approached by data centers, clarifying for the record that this would go before Moreno first.
(Photo: Commissioner Steve Stroberger holds up No Data Center sign at the regular BCC meeting)
"Nobody has approached me about a data center," Moreno said.
Theresa Blackwell pointed out the proposed revised code takes away from the New Urbanism design that was promised to Beulah residents.
“It includes detailed requirements and instructions for building five megawatt data centers," Blackwell said before asking the board to remove that language.
Several speakers said a resolution would not hold up and demanded a moratorium and land code changes.
John Moore told commissioners a resolution "does not become a law."
"You should direct Alison Rogers to draft an ordinance," Moore said. "Put in a definition of a data center."
Desha Frank warned the current proposal only targeted "hyperscale" facilities.
"The ban you're proposing is only for hyperscale data centers, which is a good start, but this won't hold up in court," Frank said. "Edge data centers decrease the latency in which Automatic License Plate Readers like Flock cameras can register your license plate and face."
Brooke Whitehurst, a lifelong resident, said areas like Cantonment and Century are "already prone to environmentally unfriendly companies." Whitehurst asked for a "one-year moratorium and a land code change."
Margaret Hostetter said the county needs time to "study, educate, and take that moratorium time." Jose Rodriguez, former Florida state senator, told the board state law limits local control of utilities.
"You need to get the Florida Association of Counties involved," Rodriguez said.
Carolyn Taylor, District 4, said she switched parties to vote against data centers and added, "a lot of farmers are not for it."
Commissioner Lumon May pushed for more action.
(Photo: Commissioner Lumon May discussing data center at the Escambia County Commission meeting)
"I'd like us to be in line with the city on this and do a moratorium," May said. "People are all over on this, and we need more decision space."
Commissioner Barry agreed with Lumon.
"There has not been a single approach made nor proposal or even an off-hand conversation at the gas station about a project involving any type of data center," Barry said.
Escambia County Attorney Alison Rogers reiterated that the land development code was unnecessary.
"The current land development code does not allow permitted or conditional use for any data center as a principal use," Rogers said.
Escambia County Director of Development Services Horace Jones said: "If a use is not listed as a permitted or conditional use, it is prohibited."
Rogers said the ordinance can be edited before the hearing to define "data center," address AI-specific facilities, and set a megawatt cap. The county attorney clarified hospitals, banks, and universities with server rooms would still be allowed as accessory uses.
(Photo: Escambia County Attorney Allison Rodgers explaining law around data centers at July 23 meeting)
Commissioner Steve Stroberger reiterated that none of the commissioners want AI data centers in Escambia County. “You’ve got to trust us; It's not happening,” said Stroberger.
The public hearing for the ordinance on data centers is scheduled for August 6.
0
0
Comments