Citrus County approves moratorium halting AI data center projects
Citrus County commissioners have approved a one-year moratorium on all new data center projects due to concerns over electricity grid strain and water usage. This decision was largely driven by a proposed data center in Lecanto, which is not subject to the moratorium but has sparked significant resident pushback. State lawmakers are also addressing data center regulations with a new disclosure and restriction bill.
Citrus County commissioners have become one of the first in the Tampa Bay region to enact a one-year moratorium on all new data center projects, specifically those aimed at training and operating artificial intelligence systems. The decision, approved unanimously, was largely prompted by resident concerns over a proposed data center near County Road 491 and Tram Road in Lecanto. Residents expressed significant pushback, citing potential impacts on the electric grid and local drinking water resources, with one resident emphasizing that water should be for "human and nature consumption, not a drop for AI."
While the recently approved moratorium will not affect the Lecanto project, as its rezoning proposal was filed prior to the vote and is scheduled for a decision next month, it highlights growing sentiment against such developments. The Deltona Corporation, which proposed the Lecanto site, did not respond to requests for comment. Similar concerns regarding water quality were highlighted nationally by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez during a recent EPA hearing, referencing a data center's impact on drinking water in Morgan County, Georgia.
In addition to local action, restrictions on data centers are also being addressed at the state level in Florida. Lawmakers in Tallahassee recently passed a bill requiring public disclosure of data centers and restricting their construction near large residential areas and schools. This broader legislative movement indicates a growing recognition of the need for oversight in data center development across the state.