Orange County plans a moratorium on AI data centers
Orange County, Florida, is considering a temporary moratorium on the construction of AI data centers due to concerns about their significant water and electricity consumption, noise, and potential impact on property values. County commissioners, including Kelly Martinez Semrad, have expressed support for the ban, citing a lack of current regulatory strength in land use codes to manage these facilities. Staff will now study the concerns, and the commission may revisit the issue in December.
Orange County, Florida, is poised to join a growing list of Florida communities proposing a temporary moratorium on the development of AI data centers. During a recent meeting, county commissioners expressed support for a ban on these large facilities, which are often referred to as "hyperscale" data centers.
District 5 Commissioner Kelly Martinez Semrad emphasized that current land use codes and the Vision 2050 plan lack sufficient regulatory power to control the impact of these rapidly emerging facilities. She highlighted significant concerns regarding water consumption, noting that data centers exceeding 50 megawatts can use up to 5 million gallons daily, equivalent to the needs of 50,000 people. This is particularly critical for Orange County, which faces a projected 96-million-gallon water shortfall by 2045. Additionally, noise pollution (up to 100 decibels) and light pollution were cited as major environmental impacts.
Public sentiment strongly favored the moratorium, with Commissioner Martinez Semrad receiving over 800 emails and dozens of residents, including Orlando's Justin Harvey, speaking in support. Harvey argued that these facilities are environmentally destructive, lower property values, create few jobs, and pose health hazards. State Representative Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, also backed the moratorium, acknowledging that while recent state legislation (SB 484) gave regulatory power to local governments, it wasn't strong enough, making the county's action vital for protecting local resources.
The discussion concluded with a decision to have county staff conduct a thorough study of the concerns, including long-term zoning, electric loads, and water impacts. The length of the proposed moratorium will be determined by the time required for this study, with the commission potentially readdressing the issue in early December.