Palm Beach County residents raise concerns over proposed AI data center

Palm Beach County residents gathered at a recent meeting to express widespread opposition to "Project Tango," a proposed hyperscale AI data center. During the public comment period, all residents who spoke were against the project. Key concerns raised included the substantial energy, power, and water consumption of the facility, with estimates of millions of gallons of water required to maintain operating temperatures. Residents also highlighted the potential for noise pollution and unknown health effects from living in close proximity to such a facility, citing issues like sleep disturbances, dizziness, nausea, and increased seizures. One resident called for the project to be rezoned from its current light industrial use to heavy industrial use, emphasizing the difference between traditional and hyperscale AI data centers. Palm Beach County Mayor Sarah Baxter, who was not present during the public comment, recently recused herself from the Project Tango vote, having previously expressed opposition to the development. County Commissioners did not respond to any commentary during the meeting, and the next Project Tango hearing has been postponed.