Lakeland city officials plan to discuss a 12-month moratorium on new data centers during an upcoming agenda study. The city attorney will look at how to legally define a ‘hyperscale’ data center and analyze regulations used by other municipalities.

Background

The legislative push follows intense public outcry over ‘Project Swan’, a proposed 550,000-square-foot data center slated for a site near Old Tampa Highway and Wilkinson Road. Neighborhood residents voiced heavy concerns regarding noise pollution, water availability, energy consumption, traffic, and the safety of area wildlife.

The developer has since put the project on hold while reviewing the initial municipal requirements. Lakeland City Commissioner Stephanie Madden noted that while the city already hosts data centers, a massive 300-megawatt hyperscale operation presents an entirely different challenge for the local power grid and water permits.

Next Steps

If the commission signals approval, a de facto moratorium will immediately take effect, denying any new hyperscale development applications while municipal staff drafts updated rules for the local land code. A first reading of the ordinance will take place on July 6, followed by a formal public hearing and final vote on July 20.

City leaders hope the pause pushes technology firms to innovate new infrastructure solutions. ‘We want to ask the questions because it could be, with the pushback, that the tech companies come up with solutions, more opportunities, and public-private partnerships — putting skin in the game where they build the power generation or buy the more expensive, alternative water,’ Madden said.

Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.