Palmetto residents get data center survey

Residents in Palmetto, Manatee County, Florida, have received a mysterious survey from "Critical Infrastructure of America," a firm linked to data center developers, asking for their opinion on a proposed data center project. Bruce Nelson, a Palmetto resident, expressed surprise and concern, noting the proposed site near the I-75 and 275 interchange is heavily residential.

Manatee County Commission Chairman Tal Sadiq, who had previously stated the county would not follow other Florida counties in enacting a data center moratorium due to concerns over violating Senate Bill 180 (which preempts local land use control), has reversed his stance. Sadiq now indicates that a new Senate bill, effective July 1st, allows counties to regulate data centers. He plans to introduce a moratorium at the next county meeting, along with a comprehensive policy analysis of data centers.

Local advocate Sari Lindros Valimaki welcomed the news of a potential moratorium but emphasized the need for more permanent regulations within the county's comprehensive plan to effectively prevent data center development. She stated, "They're planning on coming here. We need to be ready so we can stop it." The report also highlighted that several other Florida counties, including Pasco, Sarasota, Hernando, and Citrus, have already enacted data center moratoriums, with Zephyr Hills also passing a ban, and Lakeland city leaders considering one.