Scrapped data center in Okeechobee County mirrors rising opposition to data centers in South Florida

Plans for a 205-acre data campus, known as the "Okee-One" project, in Okeechobee County, Florida, were canceled last week by the county commission. This decision came amid significant local opposition and the withdrawal of $1.5 million in state funding from the Gov. Ron DeSantis administration's Rural Infrastructure Fund. The project, which was to be developed on land owned by Indian River State College (IRSC), faced a petition garnering over 3,000 signatures, indicating widespread concern among residents. Organizer Wyatt Deihl noted that residents were worried about a lack of transparency regarding the project's planning and potential increases in water and electricity costs. Local resident Shelly Glazer also voiced concerns about environmental impact. The Okeechobee County commissioners effectively shut down the proposal by voting to remove the “Special Technology Opportunity Centers” designation from their comprehensive economic growth plan, eliminating the pathway for the data center's development. The Florida Department of Commerce (FDC) accused IRSC of deceiving state officials regarding energy and water usage claims, leading to the state's withdrawal of financial support and a demand for IRSC to return nearly half of the grant money. The situation in Okeechobee County mirrors rising opposition to data centers across South Florida, including "Project Tango" in Palm Beach County, where a zoning hearing was postponed due to applicant request. This reflects a broader national trend of communities pushing back against the rapid proliferation of large-scale data center developments.