Escambia To Consider Data Center Ban; FloridaWest Says No Active Talks
Escambia County is considering an ordinance to ban data centers in its unincorporated areas, with a public hearing scheduled for August 6. This follows clarifications from FloridaWest CEO Chris Platé, who stated the agency is not in active negotiations for data centers due to limited local resources. The discussion is fueled by resident opposition and rumors of data center development in the region.
Escambia County is preparing to consider an ordinance that would ban data centers within its unincorporated areas, with a vote to schedule a public hearing set for July 23 and the ordinance itself to be considered on August 6.
The proposed ban follows significant public discussion and opposition, fueled by rumors that a data center was being planned for North Escambia, specifically Century or The Bluffs area in Cantonment. During a recent Escambia County Commission meeting, Chris Platé, CEO of FloridaWest, the economic development agency for Escambia County, emphatically denied any active negotiations to build a data center.
Platé clarified that media reports suggesting active negotiations were incorrect, stating that FloridaWest does not pursue standalone or hyperscale data centers due to limited regional power capacity and that such projects are not on their target list. He added that while FloridaWest fields inquiries about economic development, a 'handful' of previous data center inquiries have not progressed. The ordinance, as recommended by County Attorney Alison Rogers, would allow incorporated areas like Century and Pensacola to make their own decisions regarding data centers.