Venice FL Advances 1-Year Data Center Moratorium Proposal
The Venice City Council advanced a proposed 12-month moratorium on new large-scale data-center applications, with a final vote scheduled for October 27. The pause would give city staff time to develop land-use rules addressing data centers and related concerns such as electricity demand, water use, noise and neighborhood impacts.
The Venice City Council unanimously advanced on first reading a proposed 12-month moratorium on applications for large-scale data centers and other facilities with anticipated peak loads of at least 50 megawatts. The proposal would pause the acceptance, review and approval of related applications while city staff develop new land-use regulations, and would expire after one year or when the rules are adopted, whichever comes first.
A second reading and final vote were scheduled for Oct. 27. The proposal comes as municipalities and counties across Florida, including Sarasota, Manatee, North Port, Pinellas Park, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco and Nassau, consider or adopt temporary restrictions on data-center development amid concerns about power demand, water consumption, noise and neighborhood effects. Florida lawmakers have also addressed large-scale data centers through Senate Bill 484.