Manatee County approves one-year moratorium on data centers
Manatee County commissioners unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on accepting, processing and approving new data center projects. The county will use the pause to study potential impacts on energy, water, infrastructure and local communities, although no projects are currently planned.
The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on new data center projects. The measure pauses the acceptance, processing and approval of proposals while county officials develop potential rules and regulations.
Commissioners said the review will consider data centers’ potential effects on energy, water, infrastructure and local communities. Local resident Martin Hyde urged officials to place data centers on uninhabited land. The action follows North Port’s approval of a separate 18-month moratorium, and officials said no data center projects are currently planned in Manatee County.