Lakeland considers data center moratorium
Lakeland city commissioners are considering a 12-month moratorium on large data centers to study their impact on the city's electric system, water supply, and noise. The proposed pause follows public opposition to a 600,000-square-foot facility known as Project Swan. The ordinance's second reading is scheduled for August 3rd.
Lakeland city commissioners are currently deliberating a 12-month moratorium on the development of large data centers. The proposed pause is intended to provide city staff with sufficient time to assess the potential impacts of such facilities on the city's essential infrastructure, including the electric system, water supply, and noise levels, before establishing new regulatory guidelines. Scott Bishop, assistant general manager of Lakeland Electric, voiced support for the measure, emphasizing the need for a strategic pause to align resources given the substantial power demands of hyperscale data centers, which can exceed 100 megawatts.
The consideration of this moratorium stems from weeks of public opposition to a specific development, known as Project Swan, a proposed 600,000-square-foot data center in Lakeland. Residents have raised concerns regarding the environmental footprint of these facilities. Athena Wilson, a Polk County resident and board member of the Grassroots Collective, highlighted worries about the strain on local water resources, fearing that reliance on municipal water could lead to increased rates for existing ratepayers and depletion of necessary resources.
Further public advocacy came from Kelly Quinn, a third-generation Polk County resident and candidate for Polk County Commission District 2, who urged commissioners to adopt the moratorium. Quinn emphasized that the city is taking a responsible step by pausing before approving high-impact infrastructure and called for the development of clear standards. The ordinance is scheduled for its second reading on August 3rd. Should it be approved, Lakeland would become the fifth local government in the Tampa Bay area to enact such a moratorium, joining Citrus County, Hernando County, Pasco County, and the city of Zephyrhills.