Citizens worry Escambia’s data center ban promises fall far short
Escambia County is considering a new ordinance to ban large-scale data centers, but residents are concerned it doesn't go far enough, leaving the door open for smaller facilities. A public hearing is scheduled for August 6 to discuss the proposed ban and potential revisions. County legal staff clarified that current zoning already prohibits data centers of any size as a principal use.
Escambia County, Florida, is preparing for a public hearing on August 6 regarding a proposed ordinance that would ban large-scale data centers within its unincorporated areas. However, local citizens, including Brandy John who launched a petition, express strong dissatisfaction, arguing that the proposed ban is too narrow and still permits smaller data centers, failing to meet community demands for a complete prohibition.
The proposed ordinance aims to protect natural resources and prevent strain on public infrastructure, explicitly prohibiting facilities deemed an excessive demand on utilities without offering meaningful employment. County commissioners, who have unanimously supported the ban on large-scale data centers, acknowledged the need for language refinement but have not yet made changes to address these concerns.
Adding to the complexity, Escambia County Attorney Alison Rogers stated during a July 23 meeting that current county zoning already does not list data centers of any size as a permitted main activity. This means, according to legal staff, data centers are already completely unauthorized as a principal use, regardless of the proposed ordinance's scope.
Utility companies, such as Florida Power & Light (FPL) and the Florida Digital Infrastructure and Security Alliance (FDISA), advocate for responsible data center growth in Florida. FPL emphasized its