Pasco hits pause on data centers
Pasco County commissioners unanimously voted to pursue a 12-month moratorium on new data center approvals. This pause will allow county staff to draft new regulations to address concerns about data centers' impact on infrastructure, the environment, electricity, and water resources. The county aims to differentiate between smaller support facilities and larger hyperscale complexes during this period.
Pasco County commissioners unanimously voted to pursue a 12-month moratorium on new data center approvals, citing the need for updated regulations to address the booming industry. The decision, made on June 2, will provide county planners with time to draft comprehensive rules, as the current code does not adequately cover modern data center developments.
County Administrator Mike Carabella and David Engel, Director of Economic Growth, highlighted concerns about data centers' impact on local infrastructure, natural resources, and energy costs, specifically mentioning electricity demand, water consumption, noise, and light pollution. The county plans to study how other jurisdictions are handling these issues and intends to distinguish between smaller data centers that support local economic activity and larger hyperscale complexes that could disproportionately strain resources.
Commissioner Jack Mariano acknowledged that a "deluge" of emails from concerned citizens hastened the decision, though he noted some private sector opinions suggest the impact might not be as severe as perceived. The proposed ordinance language will be refined through the Planning Commission, with a public hearing anticipated before the final board approval.