Northeast Florida Regional Council Discusses Data Center Moratoriums and Regulations
The Northeast Florida Regional Council discussed data center moratoriums and potential regulations during a meeting in Bunnell led by newly installed President Andy Dance. Flagler County’s moratorium applies to unincorporated areas, while Palm Coast is considering strict land-development rules addressing data center impacts on water, power, noise and communities.
Flagler County Commissioner Andy Dance assumed the presidency of the Northeast Florida Regional Council during the group’s Oct. 1 meeting at the Nexus Center in Bunnell. The regional council, which represents seven Northeast Florida counties and 25 cities, discussed infrastructure, growth and regulatory challenges associated with data centers.
NEFRC Special Projects Coordinator Tyler Nolen said most jurisdictions represented at the meeting had adopted some form of data center moratorium. Flagler County’s year-long pause applies only to unincorporated areas and was intended to give officials time to develop appropriate land-development rules. Palm Coast was considering stringent new code provisions, while officials cited concerns about water consumption, noise and power-grid strain. Participants also debated how data centers should be defined and warned that outright bans could face legal challenges.