Palm Beach County denies Project Tango expansion, but construction on Loxahatchee site continues
Palm Beach County commissioners denied an application to expand Project Tango into a large-scale AI data center in Loxahatchee. However, construction on the site's original, smaller-scale plans from 2016 will continue. County Mayor Sara Baxter also announced a temporary moratorium on data center applications while new regulations are established.
Palm Beach County commissioners voted to deny an application for the expansion of "Project Tango," an AI data center development in Loxahatchee, Florida. The denial came after a nearly 12-hour hearing where county staff, Project Tango officials, and members of the public, including Ben Brown, HOA vice president of the adjacent Arden community, shared their perspectives.
Despite the denial of the expansion, original plans for a smaller warehouse and data center, approved in 2016, can proceed. Residents have expressed significant concerns about the expanded project's scale, citing issues such as heat production, water usage for cooling systems, and low-frequency noise, arguing that a facility of this size is incompatible with nearby residential areas and an elementary school.
Following the decision, County Mayor Sara Baxter announced a temporary moratorium on new data center applications. This pause will allow county staff to develop new regulations for large-scale data centers, addressing their impacts on local infrastructure, resources, and residents. The moratorium was prompted by hundreds of emails from concerned residents.
Ernie Cox, project manager for PBA Holdings Inc., expressed disappointment with the commission's decision, stating that the company had addressed concerns through technical studies and remains committed to meeting regional infrastructure needs. He indicated the company would evaluate its options moving forward, as the denial was issued "without prejudice," allowing for a revised resubmission.