Panama City officials impose 12-month moratorium on AI data centers
Panama City officials have enacted a 12-month moratorium on AI data centers. This decision follows Bay County's earlier 6-month moratorium, though the city's ban applies to all data centers without megawatt restrictions. The temporary ban aims to give officials time to develop a comprehensive plan for data center development.
Panama City officials have enacted a 12-month moratorium on AI data centers, mirroring a similar move by other municipalities in the Florida Panhandle. The year-long ban, which began on Tuesday, aims to provide city leaders with ample time to fully understand the implications of these facilities and develop a strategic path forward for future development.
This action follows Bay County's earlier decision to pass a six-month moratorium on data centers. However, the county's ban did not include Panama City. The city's moratorium language will align with the county's, meaning it will not impose any megawatt restrictions, effectively banning all data centers for the next year.