Google, DC Blox develop data center in Palm Coast, Florida, facing local opposition

Google is leading a multibillion-dollar subsea fiber-optic cable project, dubbed "Sol," connecting Palm Coast, Florida, to Spain to bolster its cloud and AI services. The cable will terminate at a new carrier-neutral facility in Palm Coast, developed by DC Blox, which also functions as a data center and is designed to attract other major tech clients. DC Blox anticipates investing over $100 million in the supporting infrastructure. While Palm Coast and Flagler Beach officials welcome the investment as a catalyst for advanced industry and local tax revenue, some residents express significant concerns. Opponents, including Karolyn Quianthy and Rick Vitrano, fear increased utility rates, resource depletion, and a lack of public transparency regarding the project's administrative approval. Vitrano noted that residents felt "left in the dark" about the project, which was initially scaled down to avoid a public hearing and benefited from state confidentiality provisions for economic development initiatives. DC Blox Vice President Bill Thomson assured that the Palm Coast facility will be energy-efficient, utilizing a closed-loop cooling system and operating within the local grid's capacity, with any future power infrastructure upgrades paid for by the company. The city council has also invested $330 million in utility infrastructure. The project is eligible for state and local incentives, with Flagler Beach granting a 35-year easement for a $600,000 upfront payment. Palm Coast's economic development manager, Craig McKinney, indicated the first phase did not require city financial support but highlighted the area's strategic location and infrastructure readiness. Economists like Michael Hicks of Ball State University question the value of government incentives for such private infrastructure projects, arguing that benefits primarily flow to companies and national taxpayers, not local communities. Alan Lowe, a Palm Coast resident, criticized the project's limited job creation, with only 10-12 long-term positions expected. Despite the opposition, Palm Coast city councilman David Sullivan believes the cable system will help put the rapidly growing city "on the map."