Jamie Grant: Florida’s digital future depends on economic leadership like Project Tango

Jamie Grant, former Florida Chief Information Officer and State Representative, advocates for the approval of "Project Tango," a data center development in Palm Beach County. In an opinion piece published by Florida Politics, Grant argues that the project is crucial for Florida's economic leadership and digital future, highlighting its potential to generate high-paying technology jobs and tax revenue.

Grant addresses common concerns regarding data center developments, noting that Project Tango's developer, PBA Holdings, has engineered "community-first" guardrails. These include a contractual requirement for the developer to fully fund any new electrical infrastructure, thereby insulating local taxpayers from utility rate increases. Furthermore, the project employs an advanced "closed-loop" cooling system, resulting in minimal water consumption (5,000 gallons per day at full buildout), significantly less than adjacent residential developments.

The proposed site is strategically located next to Florida Power & Light's West County Energy Center, and its approval would replace existing high-impact industrial operations like a concrete plant and asphalt plant with a quieter, low-profile business park. In response to community input, PBA Holdings has reduced the project's footprint and moved buildings approximately 2,000 feet from nearby homes and an elementary school, incorporating buffer zones and noise mitigation. Grant urges the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners to vote in favor of Project Tango at their July 15 zoning hearing to secure the county's long-term economic diversification and tax base.