Opposition to data centers mounts; more could come to rural Okeechobee County

Residents of Okeechobee County, Florida, are expressing significant opposition to proposed changes in the county's land use plan that could open the door for more data center developments. The county board was scheduled to discuss these changes, which include designating areas for 'Special Technology Opportunity Centers' aimed at economic growth and leveraging high-voltage electric infrastructure. This comes after earlier discussions about the Okee-One data center project proposed by Indian River State College. A protest against this specific project was slated, and an online petition opposing data centers in the area has garnered more than 2,000 signatures. Editor Eileen Kelley from WGCU is investigating reports that Governor Ron DeSantis's office may have canceled the Okee-One project, indicating a developing situation around data center proposals in the rural county.