Lakeland could pause new data center development applications for a year
The city of Lakeland is considering a 12-month moratorium on new data center developments, particularly hyperscale facilities, due to concerns about electricity and water consumption, noise, traffic, and environmental impact. This comes after a proposed project, "Project Swan," was put on hold following significant resident opposition. If approved, the moratorium would allow the city to develop new regulations for data centers.
The city of Lakeland is contemplating a 12-month moratorium on new data center development applications, specifically targeting hyperscale facilities. This discussion follows a previous proposal, "Project Swan," which involved a 550,000 square foot data center near Old Tampa Highway and Wilkinson Road, being put on hold.
Residents expressed strong opposition to Project Swan, citing concerns about noise pollution, excessive water and energy consumption, increased traffic, and potential impacts on local wildlife. Commissioner Stephanie Madden acknowledged these community concerns, questioning the grid's capacity for electricity and water permits for such large-scale facilities, stating that current data centers in Lakeland are much smaller than the proposed 300-500 megawatt or gigawatt users.
During an upcoming agenda study, the city is expected to discuss the proposed moratorium. The city attorney will work to define "hyperscale data centers" and research regulations adopted by other jurisdictions. If approved, a de facto moratorium would deny new hyperscale data center applications while staff develops new regulations. Commissioner Madden emphasized that this pause is intended for progress, allowing the city to gather facts, address community fears, and collaborate with developers on sustainable solutions, such as alternative water sources or on-site power generation. Other counties, like Hernando and Citrus, are also considering or have approved similar moratoriums.