(PENSACOLA, FL) – Escambia County Commissioner Mike Kohler's exact words to residents at the June 17 meeting were “I don’t want it (data centers) in my neighborhood either.”
That same night, FloridaWest CEO Chris Plate told the public and commissioners, “FloridaWest has never been in active negotiations to build a data center.”
Both Kohler and Plate lied, according to public records.
OpGov.News received public records from February 2026 showing an email chain including Kohler, Plate, The Lewis Bear Company CEO David Bear, Escambia County Administrator Wes Moreno, Naval Aviation Station Commanding Officer Captain Chandra Newman, and the office of Florida Senator Ashley Moody.
All the officials on the email chain were arranging meetings, site tours, and dinners with Nanda Bhagi, President of Tesla Group, a company that builds battery energy storage systems and smart cities for projects, including an AI data center.
(Photo: Nanda Bhagi email correspondence)
What the Emails Show
On Feb. 1, Kohler forwarded a proposal from Bhagi to Plate, Bear, and county staff.
(Photo: Commissioner Mike Kohler email correspondence)
The request: Feb 17–18, 2026, meetings in Pensacola to present the “Nikola Tesla (NT) Smart City initiative” and submit an "Expression of Interest" for a battery energy storage system Gigafactory “with integrated solar energy infrastructure and an AI data center.”
“I have been in communication with Nanda on two projects,” Kohler wrote to Plate and Bear at 9:37 AM. “The first visit will focus on the battery factory. Chris, if Saufley doesn’t work we need to find a good site.”
(Photo: Commissioner Mike Kohler email correspondence)
In a separate 9:00 AM email, Kohler told recipients:
“I have confirmed my friend Nanda will arrive Feb 16th and want to shore up the agenda this week with all parties.” Kohler wrote.
“I appreciate the help and look forward to seeing if Saufley or another site will work for his interests," Kohler wrote.
What is BESS? What is a Smart City? Who is Tesla Group?
BESS stands for Battery Energy Storage System. It’s a large-scale battery facility that stores electricity, often from solar or wind, and discharges it to the grid when demand is high. BESS sites can span dozens of acres and require significant electrical infrastructure. Tesla Group primarily sells BESS systems.
A Smart City is an urban development model that uses connected technologies, data collection, and automation to manage assets such as traffic, energy, water, and public services. Proposals often bundle BESS, solar farms, and AI data centers as the “digital backbone” of the project.
Tesla Group is not Tesla, Inc.
It is a separate entity. The similarity in names has caused confusion in other municipalities. Tesla, Inc. has not publicly commented on any affiliation with this project.
The Public Statements vs. The Record
Three weeks before the June 17, 2026, hearing, Plate had already acknowledged talking about a data center project.
“We’re in the early stages with a project that’s looking. It’s on the smaller end of data centers, that’s the only reason we’re really even talking with them. We’re just in the very beginning stages.”, Chris Plate told the Pensacola News Journal on May 28.
At the June 17, 2026, Board of County Commissioners Meeting, after residents packed chambers with “No Data Center” signs, Plate told the board:
“FloridaWest has never been in active negotiations to build a data center. There is no proposal, no incentive commitment, no impending public action before this board, PEDC, or FloridaWest. FloridaWest does not pursue any standalone or hyperscale data centers, they are not on our target list, and our regional power capacity cannot support them to begin with. The large scale box people are picturing is not coming here.”
Commissioner Mike Kohler told residents that night, “I don’t want to ruin our watertable, I appreciate the water. I don’t want it in my neighborhood either.”
Key Takeaway From the Record:
February 1, 2026: Nanda proposes an AI data center, smart city and battery factory to Escambia officials, invites former Florida Chief Financial Officer, Jimmy Patronis. Mike Kohler coordinates the meeting with Moody, Newman and Moreno, including Bear and Plate in the emails.
May 28, 2026: Plate tells PNJ FloridaWest is in “the very beginning stages” with a data center project.
June 17, 2026: Plate tells the public at the Board of County Commissioners there are “no negotiations,” “no proposal,” and data centers are “not on our target list.” Kohler tells residents he doesn’t want a data center in his neighborhood.
The February emails show Kohler inviting and facilitating the same type of project he publicly opposed in June. Plate’s May statements to media acknowledging early-stage talks are inconsistent with his June statement that FloridaWest had “never been in active negotiations.”
(Photo: FloridaWest CEO Chris Plate email with Mike Kohler, confirming data center talks)
Commissioner Lumon May said an “environmental” ban cannot take effect immediately, 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 vote on the proposed ban.
The board did not vote on June 17. Until then, organizers say they will keep connecting with neighbors and showing up.
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