Anti-data center movement gathers strength in rural Florida
An anti-data center movement is gaining significant strength across rural Florida, with communities in Citrus County and Fort Meade actively organizing against proposed developments. Residents are citing environmental concerns, water usage, and quality of life as primary reasons for opposition. Local governments are facing increased scrutiny and pressure regarding zoning decisions for these projects.
In Florida, a robust grassroots movement against data center developments is gaining momentum in rural areas. Local activists and retirees, many new to community organizing, are mobilizing residents in places like Citrus County and Fort Meade. In May, approximately 200 people gathered in Hernando, Citrus County, to discuss strategies to oppose a proposed 1,356-acre industrial park expansion by Deltona Corporation in Holder, intended to attract data centers. Concerns voiced by residents include air and water pollution, depletion of wells, and noise disturbances.
Further south, Raul Alfonso has been instrumental in organizing opposition in Fort Meade, where a 4.4 million square foot hyperscale data center is proposed. Despite the Fort Meade City Council initially approving a 20-year agreement with the developer, the project now faces a new hurdle: the Southwest Florida Water Management District must approve its water usage following an under-the-radar rule change. This offers a "last hope" for opponents, according to Alfonso. Another proposed data center campus by a state college near Lake Okeechobee was abandoned due to significant public and political backlash, with Wyatt Deihl leading that opposition campaign.
The movement spans political divides, uniting residents over shared concerns about local control, environmental health, and community impact. Activists like Cheryl Curtiss in Citrus County, drawing parallels to past political activism, express distrust regarding data centers' potential for surveillance. Residents are researching issues like the noise from "Data Center Alley" in Virginia and particulate matter from diesel generators. With planning boards tabling decisions and county commissions facing crucial votes, Floridians are realizing the profound impact local government decisions have on the future of their communities.