Martin County commissioners voted unanimously to enact a one-year moratorium on large-scale data center applications to allow time for environmental studies and the development of future regulations
MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. —
Martin County commissioners unanimously voted during a second public hearing to implement a one-year moratorium on large-scale data center applications, giving staff time to study potential environmental impacts and establish rules for future projects.
During the hearing, every resident who spoke during public comment opposed the possibility of data centers in the county.
“We simply do not have enough information on what we may be introducing to this ecologically sensitive region and the world’s most extensive restoration effort. We need more study and the evaluation of potential impacts, especially in the 16-county greater Everglades region,” said Casey Darling, policy director for Friends of the Everglades.
“I don’t want to spend another year or longer where somebody that I know is trying to do me great bodily harm. Folks, it’s in your hands. These things are not to be near people that are trying to conduct their ordinary lives,” said resident Richard Miller.
Commissioner Blake Capps confirmed there is an applicant for a data center.
“One of them is the Florida Gateway Project, where this one project has been … a data center application has come on Kanner Highway,” Capps said.
A resident who lives near the proposed site raised concerns about the scale of the project.
“I happen to live one mile from this new proposed mega center, 100 MW, and 100 MW is like unbelievable to power 100,000 homes, and that’s going to be a mile from me. Who knows how much water it’s going to use,” the resident said.
Commissioner Vargas expressed frustration with the application process.
“I was not too happy about hearing this application. I even requested the receipt, which I have here in my hand, and the date … over $9,100. We should give them back and say they don’t want you here. It’s okay, you go elsewhere,” Vargas said.
The application for the Florida Gateway Project was submitted on Oct. 12, with the first public hearing held the following day.
“We got the information late on the Monday before the 13th … so, I didn’t have the information in advance of the 13th. At the meeting on the 13th, I disclosed to everybody that I had just found out about it. I’m sorry, Commissioner, we did alert the commission as soon as we could,” said County Attorney Elysse A. Elder.
“I understand, but somebody took the money on this date is what I’m trying to say. Doesn’t anybody talk to anybody here?” Vargas said.
The application will go through the development review process, which staff said is expected to take a year.
Aside from this application, there are currently no other large-scale data center applications pending.
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