Waldron Challenges Baxter In PBC Commission District 6 Race
The Palm Beach County Commission recently enacted a one-year moratorium on new large-scale AI data centers, a key issue in the District 6 county commission race. Candidates Sara Baxter and Katherine Waldron both expressed concerns about data center impacts, including water and electricity usage, and the proper zoning classification for these facilities. The moratorium aims to allow time to reclassify data centers from 'light industrial' to 'heavy industrial' zoning.
The Palm Beach County Commission's recently enacted one-year moratorium on new large-scale AI data centers is a central issue in the District 6 commission race. The district covers areas including Wellington and Royal Palm Beach.
Incumbent Republican Sara Baxter, who serves as County Mayor, and Democratic challenger Katherine Waldron are the two candidates. Waldron had advocated for a moratorium, expressing concerns about the financial viability of such projects and suggesting performance bonds to protect the community, citing 'Project Tango' as an example. She also raised issues about water usage and potential electricity cost impacts, despite existing state regulations.
Baxter states she initially proposed the moratorium because newer hyperscale data centers, like 'Project Tango', are far larger than previously approved facilities. She argues the land is improperly zoned and hopes the moratorium period will allow for reclassification of data centers from 'light industrial' to 'heavy industrial' zoning. The article also notes Baxter's brief withdrawal from the race to run for Congress, before re-entering at the request of former President Donald Trump.