Taylor County Commission votes down data center moratorium, residents wonder what comes next
Taylor County Commissioners voted down a proposed data center moratorium despite public concerns and opposition from residents. The community worries the lack of regulations could make Taylor County an easy target for data center development. The commission has scheduled a data center workshop for August 25 for further discussions.
The Taylor County Commission held its first public discussion on data centers during a Monday meeting, drawing dozens of concerned residents to the podium in Perry, Florida.
Citizens had requested the topic be added to the agenda, hoping the commissioners would propose a moratorium on data center development, similar to neighboring counties. While District 4 Commissioner Pam Feagle supported a moratorium through December 31, other commissioners, like Michael Newman of District 3, stated they lacked sufficient information to support such a policy.
The motion for a moratorium ultimately failed, leaving many residents concerned about the county's future. Residents like Santina Deming voiced fears that without regulations, Taylor County could become "the path of least resistance" for data center developers if surrounding areas continue to adopt moratoriums.
Commissioners agreed to hold a data center workshop on August 25 at the county courthouse, moving to a larger venue to accommodate the public for further discussions.