How a donkey named Eloise became a symbol in the fight against Florida data centers

A proposed data center project in Citrus County, Florida, was unanimously rejected by the local planning commission, leading the developer, Deltona Corp., to withdraw its application. The decision followed an extensive nine-hour public meeting where residents voiced significant opposition, primarily citing concerns about potential noise pollution, impact on property values, and excessive water usage. The community's resistance coalesced around an unlikely symbol: a one-year-old mini Jerusalem donkey named Eloise, whose vulnerability to low-frequency noise from data centers was highlighted by resident Joe Hicks.

Eloise, who lives in Hernando just 30 feet from the proposed 1,356-acre industrial park expansion, became an accidental celebrity in the anti-data center movement, inspiring T-shirts and online flyers. Planning Commissioner Michael Facemyer even cited his concern for Eloise when casting his vote against the proposal. This local victory is part of a broader "summer of data center backlash" across Florida, with similar projects halted in Okeechobee, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie counties due to fierce public pushback and growing political pressure.

Samantha and Tommy Osteen, Eloise's owners, expressed disbelief that Citrus County would consider such a large-scale data center, particularly given the developer's floated idea of consuming 140,000 gallons of water in the first year. Their daughter, 11-year-old Rylee, initially raised concerns about the noise and light pollution affecting their animals, including Eloise, who she considers her best friend. The family, having moved to Citrus County to escape encroaching development, now finds themselves at the forefront of the fight to protect their quiet, rural way of life.