Florida businessman suspends data center plans in Camden County

Florida businessman Kirk Tovey has suspended his efforts to develop a data center on a nearly 700-acre parcel in Camden County, Georgia, amid growing local controversy and a direct request from Captain William Dull, commander of the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay. A public notice from Kingsland officials confirmed the withdrawal of the application to rezone the tract for an industrial park, which would have allowed data center construction, and to annex a section of the land into the city. This move occurred shortly before the city's planning and zoning board was scheduled to review the rezoning proposal and days after Capt. Dull urged Kingsland Mayor C. Grayson Day, Jr. to postpone action. In his letter to Mayor Day, Dull expressed significant concerns regarding the data center's potential impact on local aquifers and water security due to massive water demands. He also highlighted worries about the area's electric infrastructure being unable to handle the additional load, potentially leading to increased costs or grid instability for residents and the naval base. Furthermore, Dull noted that the project's scale could threaten local ecosystems and alter the community landscape, particularly in an area already strained by dredging operations critical to the base's mission. He formally requested that the items be tabled to allow for further investigation into installation impacts and coordination with city staff. While Mayor Day publicly acknowledged the naval base's input, he stated that the city would proceed responsibly, emphasizing that the Planning and Zoning board and City Council are composed of Kingsland citizens who will consider public sentiment. The withdrawal of Tovey's application came as the Camden County Commission was slated to vote on a nine-month data center moratorium, with Kingsland's city council also expected to consider a similar measure.