Marion County considering moratorium to pause data center development for 12 months

Marion County officials are set to conduct an initial review of a proposed ordinance that would impose a 12-month temporary moratorium on new data centers, cryptocurrency mining operations, and artificial intelligence computing facilities. The Marion County Planning and Zoning Commission will review the ordinance on Monday, August 31, and provide a recommendation to the Marion County Board of County Commissioners, who will make the final decision.

If approved, the ordinance would immediately halt the acceptance, processing, review, and approval of all related rezonings, site plans, conditional use permits, and building permits for up to one year. This pause is driven by county officials' concerns over the potential impact of large-scale facilities on Marion County's groundwater resources, local utility capacities, and the electrical grid.

The proposed moratorium emphasizes the county's unique position over the Floridan Aquifer and the need to protect regional groundwater levels and Outstanding Florida Springs. During the 12-month period, county staff would conduct a comprehensive study on groundwater withdrawal impacts, regional power grid capacity, land use compatibility, and environmental safeguards, including mandates for alternative cooling methods and reclaimed water usage.

This initiative follows new state legislation, Senate Bill 484, signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis, which preserves local zoning authority over data centers while requiring water management districts to mandate reclaimed water for cooling. The Board of County Commissioners had previously directed the County Attorney to prepare the moratorium ordinance.