In Polk County, fight against data centers unites political opposites
Residents across the political spectrum in Polk County, Florida, are uniting to oppose proposed data centers in Lakeland and Fort Meade due to concerns about environmental impact, energy and water usage, and economic costs. The Fort Meade City Commission approved a development agreement for a large Stonebridge data center, while Lakeland commissioners are considering a one-year moratorium on data centers.
In Polk County, Florida, a rare bipartisan coalition has formed to oppose new data center developments in Lakeland and Fort Meade. Residents, including Republican Executive Committee chair Sam Romain and Defund Oligarchy Blessed by Liberty founder Magdalene DuPree, are raising concerns about the environmental impact, energy and water consumption, and economic costs to local communities. Their unified opposition reflects national attitudes, with a recent poll cited by University of Central Florida political science professor Aubrey Jewett indicating that over 70% of Americans oppose AI data centers in their areas.
Stonebridge, a Maryland company, plans to build a 4.4 million-square-foot hyperscale data center in Fort Meade, a project that was approved by the Fort Meade City Commission in April after land-use changes were ratified. This decision has sparked a petition campaign by a group called Watchdogs of Fort Meade to recall three commissioners. Separately, a smaller data center project proposed for Lakeland has led to the Lakeland City Commission considering a one-year moratorium on data center construction. Governor Ron DeSantis has also weighed in, signing legislation to regulate data centers' power and water use statewide and expressing skepticism about the Fort Meade project.