Eatonville weighs new penalties, protections for AI data center project
The Eatonville Town Council is set to discuss new accountability measures and potential penalties, including a $500 per day fee, for a data center project. This comes amid increasing pushback from residents concerned about the facility's long-term impact on infrastructure, water, and power. The council is also considering withholding the final certificate of occupancy if the developer fails to meet site commitments.
The Eatonville Town Council is set to discuss new restrictions and accountability measures for a long-delayed artificial intelligence data center project. Residents have expressed increasing pushback due to concerns over the facility's long-term impacts on local infrastructure, including water and power issues, and the extended construction timeline. The council is considering implementing a $500 per day penalty for the developer, Hostime, if the project fails to meet specific milestones, such as sound dampening and measures to limit impacts on water resources and operational utilities.
Hostime, the developer, anticipates the 100,000-square-foot data center, located on the east side of I-4, to be fully operational by the end of next month, despite construction having lingered for over five years. The town has previously provided $200,000 in reimbursements for design and construction and granted multiple extensions.
During the upcoming meeting, leaders will also consider the ability to withhold the final certificate of occupancy if the site does not fulfill its commitments. Resident Dwayne Rackard commented on the proposed penalty, stating that "$500 a day on a multi-million dollar, possibly billion dollar company. What is that? Nothing," expressing hope that decisions will prioritize residents' interests.