County weighs moratorium

Citrus County commissioners are scheduled to hold a public hearing on Tuesday to discuss a proposed 12-month moratorium on new data center construction and expansion within unincorporated Citrus County. The temporary halt would also prevent the acceptance, review, or approval of related applications, including rezoning requests, site plans, and building permits.

The proposed moratorium has already impacted Deltona Corporation's plans to expand and rezone 800 acres at Holder Industrial Park in the Lecanto-Inverness area, which could facilitate heavy industrial uses, including data centers. Residents have actively voiced concerns at public meetings, highlighting worries about data centers' significant water and electricity consumption, particularly for cooling systems. Fears include potential strain on the Floridan Aquifer, wastewater infrastructure, and the regional power grid, as well as impacts on wetlands and coastal ecosystems.

During the moratorium, county staff would undertake a comprehensive study to assess infrastructure capacity, environmental impacts, and appropriate zoning standards, reviewing how other jurisdictions regulate such facilities. The findings will inform new rules and permitting requirements for data centers. Dixie Hollins, president of Hollinswood Ranch and a local landowner, has urged commissioners to allow the standard review process for data center regulations rather than imposing a moratorium, suggesting that potential benefits like jobs and a good tax base could be realized with proper regulation.