Hillsborough County to draft large-scale data center ban
Hillsborough County Commissioners unanimously voted to draft a ban on building large-scale AI data centers and requested a study on their impact on the county's water supply. The proposed ban is intended to take effect in October 2027, coinciding with the expiration of a state law, Senate Bill 180, which currently restricts local governments from enacting moratoriums on construction in federally declared disaster areas.
Hillsborough County Commissioners in Florida have unanimously voted to direct county staff to draft a ban on the construction of large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. This decision comes amidst a growing push by communities across the country, and specifically in the Tampa Bay area, to regulate or block such developments due to concerns over their significant demands on infrastructure, utilities, and land use.
Commissioner Donna Cameron Cepeda, who initially sought a five-year moratorium, requested the drafting of the ban to be ready by October 2027. This timing aligns with the expiration of Florida's Senate Bill 180, a 2025 law that prevents local governments in federal disaster areas from enacting construction moratoriums or more restrictive land development regulations. Commissioners also called for a study to assess the potential threat of large-scale AI data centers to the county's water supply, a concern highlighted by the Florida Water and Pollution Control Operators Association, which noted data centers can use millions of gallons of water daily for cooling. Although no formal applications for large-scale data centers have been received, including for a 1,000-acre site marketed as University Energy Park, the county aims to proactively address potential impacts. Governor Ron DeSantis also signed a statewide law in May regulating large-scale data centers, requiring them to use reclaimed water when possible and bear their full cost of service.