El Dorado-Union County Chamber issues statement on reported data center expansion
The El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce issued a statement following the Union County Quorum Court's approval of a one-year moratorium on new data center developments and expansions. This decision came after reports of a potential expansion by Paradox Data, LLC, involving Z Squared Inc., in the El Dorado-Union County Industrial Park. The Chamber expressed concerns that the moratorium could be perceived as anti-growth but committed to continued collaboration.
The El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce released a statement in response to the Union County Quorum Court's recent unanimous approval of a one-year moratorium on new data center developments and expansions within Union County. This action follows reports of a potential expansion by Paradox Data, LLC, which operates an 8-megawatt cryptocurrency mining facility in the El Dorado-Union County Industrial Park. Paradox Data reportedly entered a binding letter of intent with Florida-based Z Squared Inc. for the expansion.
Steven Jones, President and CEO of the El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce, stated that the Chamber and its economic development partners were unaware of the potential acquisition and expansion until it was publicly reported. During a June 30 meeting, Jones requested the Quorum Court's support in allowing time to research and understand the companies' plans, expressing concern that a moratorium could be perceived as an anti-growth stance by prospective industries.
County Judge Mike Loftin and the Quorum Court members expressed a desire to gather more information directly from developers. Jones acknowledged these concerns but maintained that the economic development team should investigate the project's validity and potential impact before implementing a county-wide moratorium. The Chamber emphasized its commitment to working with Union County and the City of El Dorado to gather information for informed decision-making.