Right Now, Century Is The Only Place In Escambia County Where A Data Center Could Be Located
The Escambia County Commission has voted for a resolution to ban data centers in unincorporated areas, following the City of Pensacola's existing one-year moratorium. This leaves Century as the only municipality in the county without a ban, though its infrastructure is currently unable to support data centers. Century's mayor indicated the town would likely follow the county's lead on such policies.
The Escambia County Commission recently voted unanimously to approve a resolution banning data centers in the unincorporated areas of Escambia County. This resolution is expected to be formalized into an ordinance at an upcoming meeting in August. This action follows a previous decision by the City of Pensacola, which enacted a one-year moratorium on large-scale data centers (those with greater than a 50-megawatt load) within its city limits, effectively extending the ban to include Pensacola.
As a result of these governmental actions, the town of Century is now the only incorporated municipality in Escambia County without a specific ban or moratorium on data centers. However, Century Mayor Ben Boutwell and Town Manager Dave Murzin have stated that the town's existing infrastructure, particularly its limited water supply, is currently insufficient to support a data center. Mayor Boutwell highlighted that two of Century's three water wells are presently out of service or undergoing rehabilitation, severely restricting the town's capacity.
While no data center developers have yet contacted Century regarding potential development, town officials indicated they would consult with the FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance if approached. Mayor Boutwell also suggested that Century would likely align its policies with the county's position on data centers.