Palm Beach County Residents Oppose Proposed AI Data Center
Residents in Palm Beach County, Florida, are heavily opposing Project Tango, a proposed AI data center by PBA Holdings, citing concerns over water supply, environmental impact, and proximity to an elementary school. The county's zoning commission unanimously recommended denying the project, but county commissioners are holding a key vote. The project claims it would generate significant tax revenue and jobs.
A proposed artificial intelligence data center, known as Project Tango, in Palm Beach County, Florida, near the community of Arden, is facing significant opposition from local residents. The project, approximately 20 miles from Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, is being developed by PBA Holdings.
Residents, organized under the group "Stop Project Tango," voiced their concerns at a county commissioners' meeting, citing risks to public health, school and community safety, environmental protection, and local finances. Key issues include the project's proximity to an elementary school and its proposed use of 5,000 gallons of potable water per day, which has raised fears about contamination of private wells and local aquifers. A petition against the project has garnered over 8,400 signatures.
PBA Holdings and Project Tango manager Ernie Cox maintain that the development has been designed to mitigate these impacts, including the use of a closed-loop water system and adjustments to facility placement to reduce noise and distance from the school. Developers also highlight the economic benefits, estimating $561 million in annual tax revenue and 500 permanent jobs, arguing the site is already affiliated with industrial uses.
Despite the developers' assurances, the county's zoning commission unanimously recommended denying the project in early July, influenced by the widespread public opposition, although professional staff had recommended approval. The final decision now rests with the county commissioners, who are holding a key vote. This local resistance aligns with broader sentiment across Florida, where at least 10 localities have enacted data center moratoria, contrasting with the Trump administration's past efforts to expedite data center construction.