Fort Meade delays voting on a massive AI data center after residents protested it

The city of Fort Meade, Florida delayed a vote on a proposed massive AI data center after residents protested the project, citing concerns over its energy and water usage, as well as potential environmental and noise impacts. The developer, Stonebridge, was previously granted a zoning change and tax break, but now faces opposition from local residents worried about the project's effects on their small, rural town. Commissioners changed the development agreement to an ordinance, adding more formal steps to the process, but faced questions over transparency. The Florida legislature is also considering a bill to regulate AI data centers in the state.