Proposed Lakeland data center 'nowhere near' scale of Fort Meade site
A proposed 600,000-square-foot data center in southwest Lakeland, Florida, has sparked public opposition and surprised city commissioners who were initially unaware of the plans. The conceptual site plan was submitted by Kimley-Horn for Ryan Companies U.S. Inc., with concerns raised about water and electricity consumption. City staff has scheduled a Developer Review Committee meeting with the developer.
A proposal for a 600,000-square-foot hyperscale data center in southwest Lakeland, Florida, has caused significant public outcry and caught city commissioners by surprise, as they were largely unaware of the plans until residents began voicing opposition. The conceptual site plan, titled "Project Swan," was submitted to the City of Lakeland on May 5 by engineering firm Kimley-Horn on behalf of Ryan Companies U.S. Inc., a national commercial real estate firm.
Mayor Sara Roberts McCarley and Commissioner Guy LaLonde reported receiving numerous emails and phone calls from residents expressing strong opposition to the project. City Manager Shawn Sherrouse confirmed the application's receipt but stated the city had no details on specific services required. The proposed facility, significantly smaller than a 4.4 million square-foot data center planned for Fort Meade, would be built on approximately 40 acres near Old Tampa Highway and Wilkerson Road, with parcels owned by Holmes Beach Family Tides LLC.
Major concerns revolve around the proposed data center's water and electrical demands, which were left blank in the application. Lakeland is permitted for 35.03 million gallons per day by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SwiftMud), which now requires Board of Governors approval for data center water-use permits. Lakeland Electric has a generating capacity of 776.9 megawatts in summer, with a 2025 peak load of 753 megawatts. The plans include a 3.8-acre electrical substation. City officials state the proposal will be evaluated against existing standards and public participation details will be released later.