Lakeland Watching Fort Meade Data Center as Water Concerns Grow

A controversial 4.4 million-square-foot hyperscale data center proposed by Maryland-based developer Stonebridge in Fort Meade, Florida, received unanimous approval from the city's commissioners last week despite strong local opposition. The $2.6 billion project, slated for a 1,300-acre former phosphate mining site, is set to be Florida's first hyperscale facility. However, its future remains uncertain as it requires multiple state and federal permits, particularly concerning environmental and water-use authorizations. Lakeland city officials are closely monitoring the proposal due to its potential impact on the region's already strained water supply. Commissioners Stephanie Madden, Guy LaLonde Jr., and Mike Musick expressed concerns about water constraints and the long-term sustainability of the Upper Floridan Aquifer, which supplies drinking water to millions. The project is estimated to use 50,000 gallons of potable water daily, a figure state officials contest as "woefully underestimated." The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) has warned Fort Meade that it cannot use its existing permit to supply the project's water, requiring a new permit approved by the full governing board under a recently adopted policy for data centers. Florida Commerce Secretary J. Alex Kelly sent a four-page letter criticizing the project as "fundamentally flawed," warning of "significant risks" to Central Florida's water resources, energy capacity, and transportation infrastructure. Kelly also questioned the approval process, describing it as "reverse engineering," and challenged the project's economic benefits, including job projections and a touted $10 million developer contribution. The facility's estimated 1.2 gigawatts of electricity demand has also raised questions about grid capacity and potential residential ratepayer subsidies. Despite Fort Meade's approval, the data center faces significant hurdles. State officials emphasize that key information is missing, and the project's ultimate fate may rest with regional and state regulators rather than local authorities, highlighting broader concerns about managing limited resources amid a wave of data center developments across Florida.