Marion officials schedule data center workshop amidst confusion, opposition from residents

The Marion County Board of County Commissioners has voted to schedule a public workshop on September 1 at 2 p.m. in Ocala to develop guidelines and potential legislation for evaluating and managing future data center developments. This decision follows significant public comment from local residents, including former Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn, who advocated for clear rules regarding electricity, gas, and water use.

Several residents expressed confusion and concern during Tuesday's meeting, with some believing the board was voting to approve a data center. Commissioners, including Craig Curry and Chairman Carl Zalak III, clarified that the workshop is intended to create a framework to guide future decisions, emphasizing the importance of establishing rules to avoid being at the mercy of developers. Commissioner Curry highlighted insights gained from other counties at a National Organization of Counties gathering, noting data centers are a national 'hot topic' with varying experiences.

The initiative is also a response to Florida Senate Bill 484, which took effect July 1, preserving local zoning authority over data centers while mandating statewide utility cost allocation and reclaimed water use for cooling. County Attorney Matthew "Guy" Minter confirmed the possibility of a temporary moratorium, though any application would still undergo review. The county aims to align local policy with state and federal guidelines before any large-scale developers submit formal data center applications, given data centers' significant power and water demands.