Santa Rosa debunks data center rumors; says 'we are not interested'
Santa Rosa County officials are debunking social media rumors about a proposed AI data center. Residents expressed strong opposition at a county commission meeting, citing concerns about resource usage, environmental impact, electricity, and water, despite officials confirming no data center developer has contacted the county. Commissioners discussed state legislation that grants local governments power over data center regulations.
Santa Rosa County officials have actively debunked social media rumors circulating about a proposed AI-powered data center in the area, assuring residents that no such facility has approached the county for development. County Administrator Brad Baker and Economic Development Director Shannon Ogletree stated there have been no applications or expressions of interest from data center operators, and the county is "not interested" in jeopardizing its "pristine environment.
Despite these assurances, five residents addressed the Santa Rosa County Commission meeting on July 9, expressing strong opposition to the hypothetical data center. Speakers like Andrea Perry voiced fears about potential relocation due to a data center, while political candidates Jeff Snow and R.C. Pittman highlighted concerns over electricity, water, and national resource strain. Resident Warren Davis called for a moratorium, referencing actions by "counties to our east," and former commission candidate Jerry Couey urged commissioners to issue a written statement to calm public fears. Commissioner Rhett Rowell pointed to recently passed state legislation, SB 484, which grants local governments greater authority over comprehensive planning and land development regulations for large load customers, including data centers.
Guillermo Francia III from the University of West Florida Center for Cybersecurity provided context on AI-centric data centers, noting their significant demands for power and water, along with noise generation, contrasting them with smaller, less controversial enterprise data centers. Officials believe the rumors may have originated from discussions in neighboring Escambia County, where a defense industry company had inquired about a smaller AI data center, stirring considerable local opposition.