Okeechobee County vote ends the controversial Okee-One data center

Okeechobee County leaders have decided to remove proposed "Special Technology Opportunity Centers" from their long-term growth plan, effectively terminating the controversial "Okee-One" data center project. This action scraps a proposed data center on the property formerly known as the Okeechobee School for Boys. The project was led by Indian River State College and had previously received a $1.5 million boost from Governor DeSantis's World Infrastructure Fund. However, a commissioner indicated that the Governor's office has since pulled support, though WPTV has not received official confirmation. The decision comes after months of public opposition, with residents expressing concerns about the impact of large-scale data centers. Local resident Kevin Rice Felt stated that the community prefers its quiet, small-town atmosphere. Former County Commissioner Brian Cole Pepper reported receiving numerous calls from concerned residents. The primary opposition centered on environmental issues, specifically potential water pollution and excessive water consumption, which residents feared would be detrimental to the local cattle industry.