Energy company's CEO says he wants to build solar farm, not data center in Nassau County

Michael D. Farkas, Founder and CEO of Florida-based energy company NextNRG, has clarified his company's intentions for 1,600 acres leased from Rayonier in Nassau County, Florida. Farkas stated that NextNRG's primary plan is to develop a solar energy generation project aimed at providing low-cost, resilient power to JEA, a Jacksonville-based utility. The project was initially conceived as a "smart grid" deploying solar panels and energy storage, potentially involving local companies like Jinko Solar and Saft batteries. However, the project encountered difficulties in reaching an agreement with JEA, leading NextNRG to consider alternative monetization options for the site, including a data center. This consideration, coupled with circulating social media posts about NextNRG building an AI data center, prompted Nassau County Commissioners to discuss a 12-month moratorium on data center development. Farkas, however, reiterated that NextNRG is fundamentally an energy company and is not in the data center business, though they briefly explored the option due to challenges with the solar project. JEA has confirmed that NextNRG has reached out, but no agreements have been made. The timeline for the site's development remains uncertain, contingent on successful negotiations with JEA. JEA currently has several solar power purchase agreements and is constructing two solar sites in Duval County.