Manatee County commissioners move forward with moratorium on new data centers
Manatee County commissioners are moving to enact a yearlong moratorium on new data centers, with a final vote scheduled for October. This action stems from growing resident and staff concerns about the significant water and electricity demands of large-scale data centers and their potential environmental impacts. The moratorium would allow county staff to review existing regulations and develop permanent solutions.
Manatee County commissioners are progressing with a proposal to implement a 12-month moratorium on large-scale data center developments. Following its initial public hearing on Tuesday, the ordinance is set for a second hearing and final approval in October.
The proposal, first introduced in July, is a response to escalating concerns from residents regarding the potential environmental consequences of data centers, particularly their substantial requirements for water and electrical resources, exacerbated by the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications. Commissioner Amanda Ballard emphasized the county's authority under Florida's recently passed Senate Bill 484, which grants local governments greater power to regulate data centers, including allowing public utilities to impose tariffs on large-load customers and prohibiting water management districts from issuing consumptive water use permits to data centers.
The county intends for the temporary ban to provide staff with time to review current regulations and propose necessary updates to the Comprehensive Plan, Land Development Code, and Code of Ordinances. Resident Martha Jacobs voiced support for the moratorium at Tuesday's meeting, advocating for a permanent ban due to concerns about water scarcity in Manatee County. Staff describe the initiative as a "proactive moratorium" on all data center-related activities to facilitate the development of appropriate long-term regulations.