Palm Beach County commissioners on Thursday voted to stop moving forward with a proposed nine‑month consulting contract with Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. (VHB). The contract, valued at up to $224,900, would have tasked the firm with drafting rules for large‑scale data centers and other high‑intensity industrial uses.
Why the decision was reversed
Commissioners initially approved the VHB contract but later raised concerns about the firm’s experience and potential conflicts of interest. Residents questioned whether VHB could provide independent advice, noting the company’s past work for businesses that build data centers. A VHB representative acknowledged the firm’s engineering and environmental services for data‑center clients but said it currently has no active data‑center projects in Florida or Palm Beach County.
The representative also noted that VHB has helped local governments develop regulations in other areas, though it has never written a specific ordinance for data centers. He assured commissioners that the firm would act as an objective third party, not favoring or opposing data‑center development.
County staff’s position
County staff defended the original recommendation, arguing that VHB is qualified and offered a broad scope of work at a practical cost. The staff highlighted that six other proposals were received during an earlier information‑gathering process, with prices ranging from $100,000 to $2 million. They warned that further delays could jeopardize the county’s one‑year moratorium on large‑load data centers, which expires soon. If the moratorium ends before new regulations are adopted, applications could be reviewed under the county’s limited existing rules.
Next steps for the county
Commissioners directed staff to explore additional consulting firms and to consult with the procurement office to determine whether a formal competitive bidding process is required and how it might affect the timeline. They also instructed staff to bring back a proposal for a resident task force, which could include representatives from each commission district. The task force would give the public a larger role in shaping the forthcoming regulations, and the proposal is expected to return on November 18.
The board’s decision does not end the county’s effort to regulate large data centers. The moratorium remains in place while officials continue work on permanent rules that address noise, water and electricity use, backup power systems, public safety, infrastructure impacts, and effects on nearby communities.
Original reporting: WPBF (Treasure Coast / Hearst) — read the source article.
