DeSoto County Residents Express Water Concerns Over Proposed AI Data Center
The DCIP Group proposes an AI data center in DeSoto County, Florida, promising efficient water management through advanced cooling and reclaimed water. However, local residents and environmental groups are highly skeptical, citing record-low Peace River levels and potential impacts on the Floridan Aquifer. The project's approval process is ongoing, with water availability being the primary concern.
The DCIP Group has proposed a new artificial intelligence data center in DeSoto County, Florida, specifically to the city of Arcadia. The project aims to bring jobs and technological investment to the rural area. The developer claims the facility will utilize advanced closed-loop cooling systems, reducing water consumption by over 90% compared to older methods, and plans to primarily use reclaimed wastewater from the city, supplemented by stormwater collection. Fuel-cell technology that produces water as a byproduct is also being considered.
However, the proposal has met with significant skepticism and concern from local residents and environmental advocates. Arcadia residents Josi Bickers and Caroline Zeller have highlighted the Peace River's current record-low levels, questioning the viability of a water-intensive facility during a severe dry season. Andy Mele, a board member with Peace Myakka Waterkeeper, also voiced doubts, noting that even closed-loop systems require water replenishment and disposal solutions, and expressed concern that the Floridan Aquifer, a primary potable water source, could eventually be impacted.
Critics argue that relying on rainwater collection during Florida's dry season is impractical. A major point of contention is DCIP Group's failure to release specific daily, monthly, or annual water consumption estimates, asking residents to trust the project's promises without concrete data. The approval process for the data center is in its early stages, with water availability poised to be the central issue.