Orange County moves closer to temporarily banning data centers

Orange County commissioners agreed to advance a plan for a 6- to 18-month moratorium on new data center development, with a formal vote anticipated on December 1. The proposal aims to allow county staff to research the potential impacts of large-scale data centers and establish specific zoning regulations, as current county code lacks such provisions. Commissioner Kelly Martinez Semrad, who initiated the plan, highlighted the need for the county to proactively set rules that benefit the community, citing similar moratoriums in other municipalities nationwide.

The push for a moratorium stems from growing concerns over the environmental impact, substantial energy and water consumption, noise pollution, and potential spikes in utility bills associated with large data centers. Public sentiment, as reflected in a recent Gallup poll indicating widespread opposition to data center construction, was strongly echoed during Tuesday's public comment session. Dozens of residents, alongside activists from groups like the youth-led Sunrise Movement and Sierra Club Florida, spoke in favor of the ban, emphasizing the protection of natural resources and quality of life. State Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, also voiced her support for the county-wide measure.

Orange County chief planner Marcus Bastian and Commissioner Semrad underscored the significant resource demands of these facilities, with large-scale data centers exceeding 50 megawatts potentially consuming up to 5 million gallons of water daily, equivalent to the usage of 50,000 people. This adds strain to already limited resources like the aquifer. The duration of the proposed moratorium will depend on the time required by county staff to complete their impact studies and develop appropriate regulatory frameworks.