Lakeland is latest Bay area city to consider data center moratorium
Lakeland, Florida, is considering a one-year moratorium on data center development, following weeks of public pushback against a proposed 600,000-square-foot facility named Project Swan. The City Commission is evaluating the ordinance due to concerns about the local electric grid's capacity to support such large developments.
The Lakeland City Commission in Florida is currently considering a proposed ordinance that would enact a one-year moratorium on all new data center developments. This move comes after significant public pushback against 'Project Swan,' a planned 600,000-square-foot data center slated for Lakeland, which is projected to consume 100 megawatts of power.
During a recent meeting, city leaders and residents voiced concerns about whether Lakeland's existing electric grid infrastructure could adequately support a facility of this scale. The Monday meeting served as the first reading of the proposed ordinance, allowing for public feedback and discussion before a potential vote next month. If passed, Lakeland would join other Bay Area cities in implementing a temporary ban on data center construction.