Tour of proposed 'Project Tango' site reveals revisions ahead of July zoning hearing
A proposed 1.5 million square foot data center, codenamed "Project Tango", in western Palm Beach County, Florida, is undergoing revisions to address community concerns about environmental impact, noise, water usage, and power consumption. The developer, PBA Holdings Inc., has modified plans to relocate cooling equipment and presented a closed-loop water system ahead of a July 15 zoning board meeting. State legislation, Senate Bill 484, was also signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to prevent utilities like Florida Power & Light from passing increased electricity costs from large users to residents.
A proposed data center, identified as "Project Tango," near the Arden community in western Palm Beach County, Florida, has been the subject of months-long debate. The project has raised concerns among residents regarding its environmental impact, proximity to homes and a school, noise levels, water usage, and power consumption. These concerns have led the developer, PBA Holdings Inc., to make several revisions to the initial plan.
Ernie Cox, project manager for PBA Holdings Inc., announced that the revised plan includes expanding the data center buildings from over 1 million to 1.5 million square feet. Critically, cooling equipment will be relocated further west and housed inside a concrete building to mitigate noise impact, aiming for noise levels of approximately 45 decibels at the closest homes, below the county's 60-decibel limit. The project also addresses water usage concerns by employing a "closed loop" cooling system that recirculates water, with an estimated daily water consumption of only 5,000 gallons for human use.
Regarding electricity, Cox highlighted a law, previously Senate Bill 484, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, which prevents utility companies like Florida Power & Light from passing increased electricity costs from large users onto residential customers. This means large users, including data centers, must pay not only for the electricity consumed but also for the necessary infrastructure to deliver it. The 202-acre site, owned by multiple entities including PBA Holdings, WPB Logistics Owners LLC, and the Central Park Commerce Center's Property Owners Association, has a projected power demand of 600 megawatts.
The tech company behind "Project Tango" remains undisclosed due to a nondisclosure agreement. Cox and his team are continuing to engage with residents and offer site tours ahead of the July 15 zoning board meeting, where he plans to present the proposed changes and request additional square footage.