Citrus County moves toward data center pause as concerns grow

Citrus County commissioners are considering a temporary moratorium on future data center developments. The proposal, which is expected to go before the commission next month, aims to halt any new projects for up to a year while the county works on establishing new rules and regulations for data centers. Residents, including Tracy Landry, have expressed significant concerns regarding the potential impacts of data centers on their quality of life, citing issues such as noise and high power consumption. Landry described feeling "distraught" and "helpless" at the prospect of a data center near her home in Lecanto Business Park. She emphasized the lack of information provided to residents about such developments. County Attorney clarified that the proposed moratorium would not apply to a pending rezoning application for an industrial park, as discussions for that project began earlier this year. However, the temporary pause is intended to allow the county to proactively address the broader concerns surrounding data center expansion before more projects are approved.