Lakeland takes steps toward moratorium on hyperscale data centers
Lakeland city leaders are moving to implement a one-year moratorium on new hyperscale data centers, spurred by public opposition to a proposed facility dubbed 'Project Swan'. The city seeks to study potential impacts on the environment and local utility capacity. An ordinance will be drafted, with public hearings scheduled for July.
Lakeland city leaders are initiating steps towards a one-year moratorium on future hyperscale data center developments. This decision follows significant public pushback against 'Project Swan,' a proposed 600,000-square-foot data center planned for west Lakeland.
City officials, including Commissioners Stephanie Madden and Terry Coney, have expressed concerns regarding the potential environmental impacts and the capacity of local utilities, particularly the power grid, to support such large-scale facilities. They emphasize that the moratorium is intended to allow for thorough due diligence and research into the ramifications of data center growth, rather than to deter business entirely.
Following an agenda study meeting, City Attorney Palmer Davis confirmed that a de facto moratorium is already in effect, allowing staff to deny applications for hyperscale facilities until new regulations are adopted. The proposed ordinance for a formal one-year moratorium will undergo public hearings on July 6 and July 20, with a final vote scheduled for the latter date. The duration of the moratorium could be adjusted based on the time required for officials to complete their assessments and ensure a balance between technological innovation and residents' quality of life.