Polk County Commissioner Supports Fort Meade Stonebridge Data Center Amid Opposition
Polk County Commissioner Bill Braswell supports the Stonebridge data center project in Fort Meade, Florida, despite significant local opposition. The multi-billion-dollar project is facing major legal and regulatory hurdles, particularly concerning water management and permitting issues raised by the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
Polk County Commissioner Bill Braswell of District 3 is a strong advocate for data center developments within Polk County, Florida. He particularly supports the multi-billion-dollar Stonebridge data center project slated for Fort Meade, which is intended to be the state's first hyperscale data center campus.
However, Braswell's backing for such projects has been met with considerable pushback from residents in the Fort Meade and Lakeland areas. The Stonebridge project itself is encountering significant obstacles, primarily related to water management and permitting.
State environmental officials and the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), also known as "Swiftmud," have identified several critical issues, making water and regulatory compliance major legal hurdles for the proposed facility.