Fort Meade holds a vote for a new Data Center

The Fort Meade City Commission in Polk County, Florida, is scheduled to hold a crucial vote tonight on a proposal to approve the construction of a large data center. This decision follows the Planning and Zoning Board's recent recommendation to give the project the green light. The meeting, taking place at 6 PM in the Fort Meade Community Center, will include a public comment period before the official vote. City leaders anticipate a significant economic boost from the project, estimated at $100 million annually, which could fund infrastructure upgrades and essential services. The proposed data center, located off Highway 17 north of Broadway Street, is expected to create 456 high-paying jobs upon completion. The developer aims to begin construction this year, with a target completion date of 2028 or 2029. Once built, the facility would be sold to a third-party operator, with potential buyers like Amazon, Google, or Oracle being mentioned as examples. Despite the potential economic benefits, many residents have voiced opposition, primarily due to concerns over the data center's substantial water and power demands. The developer has attempted to mitigate these concerns by claiming the facility will use 75% less water than other data centers, comparing its water usage to that of a large gas station or high school. Regarding energy, while the center would require enough power for hundreds of thousands of homes, the developer stated that tariffs with Duke Energy would prevent residential customers from experiencing higher bills.