DeSoto County commissioners approve one-year data center moratorium, exempting existing project

DeSoto County Commissioners recently approved a one-year moratorium on new AI data centers, a decision made after months of public concern regarding the potential impacts of such facilities. The moratorium, however, specifically exempts an existing project by the DCIP Group, located along Northeast Rowan Street in Arcadia, and its two pending rezoning applications. This project, which initially involved rezoning 34 acres for a 35,000 square foot data center, has since expanded its scope with two additional rezoning applications covering over 850 acres.

County leaders stated that the moratorium is intended to provide staff with adequate time to thoroughly study how large data centers could affect DeSoto County, particularly concerning water use, power demand, noise, and overall environmental impacts, before permanent regulations are adopted. Residents at the packed meeting voiced strong opposition, with some calling for a complete ban on data centers in Florida due to concerns about their effects on citizens.

Despite the moratorium, the DCIP Group's previously approved project and its pending expansion applications will continue through the county review process. The company has indicated a reduction in the project's size from earlier plans, with less than 100 acres dedicated to data center buildings and the remainder as open space. DCIP Group also stated plans to generate most of its own electricity and use groundwater only as a last resort.

Separately, Collier County Commissioners are also proactively working on new land use rules through a "zoning in progress" process to prepare for potential future data center applications, although no applications are currently pending in that county.