New Jacksonville Councilmember Moné Holder Takes On Duval Data Center Fight
Jacksonville's new City Councilmember Moné Holder is championing efforts to regulate data center development in Duval County, including considering a moratorium, ahead of a potential hyperscale project near Jacksonville International Airport. This move comes as several neighboring Florida counties have already enacted temporary bans on data center construction due to concerns about natural resources and utility strain. Holder plans a public meeting to gather community feedback before crafting legislation.
Jacksonville's newly elected City Councilmember Moné Holder is leading efforts to establish regulations for data center development in Duval County, Florida. Her initiative follows a special election win on August 18, where she heard widespread concerns from voters regarding potential hyperscale data center projects. Holder aims to implement rules, possibly including a moratorium, before any large-scale facilities break ground, particularly in light of a 2025 announcement by NextNRG regarding a 1,600-acre lease option near Jacksonville International Airport, with 400 acres earmarked for a data center.
This local push in Jacksonville mirrors actions taken by neighboring counties. Clay County Commissioners enacted a one-year moratorium on data center applications in unincorporated areas in June, driven by public testimony on natural resource concerns. Nassau County's Board of Commissioners also approved a 12-month pause in June, establishing a Fact-Finding Committee. Putnam County followed suit in September, unanimously passing an ordinance for a moratorium through August 2027 on facilities with 5 megawatts or greater electrical loads. St. Johns County has discussed a similar temporary ban.
The debate is set against a backdrop of evolving state regulations. Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 484 into law in May, requiring large-scale data centers (over 50 megawatts) to cover the full cost of their electric service, while preserving local governments' authority over land use for such facilities. However, another 2025 law, Senate Bill 180, is being challenged as unconstitutional by over 25 Florida local governments for prohibiting disaster-declared counties from adopting more restrictive land-use regulations.
Councilmember Holder plans to consult with fellow council members and the community, with a public meeting scheduled for October 7 in Jacksonville to gather input. Concerns primarily revolve around the significant power and water demands of hyperscale facilities, which are substantially larger than existing data centers in Duval County. Jacksonville's municipal utility, JEA, has already moved to secure new energy capacity, including a recently approved gas plant, to address surging power demands partly attributed to AI data centers. Holder's legislative efforts will aim to balance these energy needs with community and environmental protection.