St. Johns County to explore temporary ban on data centers as debate continues

The St. Johns County Board of Commissioners is exploring a temporary ban on AI data centers, following a warning from Commissioner Ann Taylor that the county could become a primary target for development if nearby regions, such as Nassau County, implement their own restrictions. Nassau County has already approved a 12-month moratorium, and regional officials are reportedly examining the issue. Taylor initially proposed a one-year moratorium, but the item could not proceed immediately due to lack of public notice and would require a public hearing.

Commissioner Christian Whitehurst confirmed he had already requested a staff report detailing the environmental and economic impacts of data centers, specifically their water and power consumption. While not against discussing a moratorium, Whitehurst emphasized the need for due diligence and fact-based decision-making. Both commissioners attended a presentation on data centers, where it was suggested that newer facilities might use less water for cooling, though concerns about overall water and electricity usage, with one data center potentially consuming power equivalent to 100,000 homes, persist. The proposed temporary moratorium is expected to be presented at a future meeting after the county conducts its review.