Palm Beach County commissioners set to decide fate of controversial Project Tango data center
Palm Beach County commissioners are set to vote on the controversial Project Tango AI data center after months of community opposition. Residents are concerned about the project's location near an elementary school, as well as potential impacts on groundwater, noise, and energy use. The Palm Beach County Zoning Commission previously denied a revised application for the expanded 202-acre site.
The Palm Beach County Commission is scheduled to vote on the contentious Project Tango artificial intelligence data center proposal, following months of significant community opposition. Hundreds of residents from the Arden community are expected to attend the meeting, wearing "Stop Project Tango" shirts, to express their concerns.
Neighbors are particularly worried about the data center's proximity to Saddle View Elementary School and the Arden community, citing potential negative impacts on groundwater, noise levels, and energy consumption. Corey Kanterman, an organizer with the community group Stop Project Tango, emphasized residents' concerns about well water contamination and the broader environmental effects, noting that many affected residents live on well water in areas like Arden, Loxahatchee, and The Acreage.
The upcoming vote follows the Palm Beach County Zoning Commission's recent denial of a revised application that sought to expand the already approved 202-acre site. Project Manager Ernie Cox of PBA Holdings Inc. stated that the development team made changes to address community concerns, including expanding the data center buildings from 1 million to 1.5 million square feet, relocating cooling equipment further west, and enclosing much of it in a concrete building to mitigate noise. However, Kanterterman remains opposed, arguing that even with changes, the facility does not belong near his neighborhood.
Palm Beach County officials anticipate a large turnout for the Wednesday meeting and have arranged an overflow location for residents to watch the hearing and provide public comment. Kanterman plans to speak during the public comment session to advocate for his family and community.