Developers respond to community concerns over Project Tango data center
Developers of the Project Tango data center in Palm Beach County held a webinar to address vocal community opposition, clarifying project details and impacts. They highlighted that the land is already zoned for industrial use and that site plan adjustments were made to mitigate concerns about noise and proximity to residential areas and a school.
Developers of Project Tango, a proposed AI data center in Palm Beach County, Florida, held a webinar to address significant community concerns. The project has faced vocal opposition from residents in nearby neighborhoods regarding its potential impact. Rachel Williams from WPBF 25 News reported on the latest developments, detailing the developers' efforts to clarify the project's scope and mitigate public worries.
During the webinar, developers stated that the chosen land is already approved for industrial zoning and is situated next to major power infrastructure. They announced adjustments to the initial site plan, moving the data center building 2,000 feet from Arden community homes and Saddle View Elementary School. To illustrate the visual impact, an artist's rendering showed the power plant and cooling towers in the background from the perspective of a berm.
Key concerns among residents included noise and water consumption. Developers explained that data center equipment will be enclosed, and noisy components will be relocated to the west side of the building, further from communities. They project sound levels at the property to be below 50 dB, comparable to light traffic. Regarding water use, developers claimed the data center would use 5,000 gallons per day, significantly less than the 500,000 gallons per day used by Arden communities or the 25 million gallons per day used by the adjacent FPL power plant, which utilizes reclaimed water and an evaporative cooling system. Project Tango will not use evaporative cooling. Residents, including parents, voiced fears about noise, health risks, and compromised outdoor play areas, arguing that the heavy industrial use does not belong so close to residential zones. Developers also assured that the data center would not impact residents' electric bills or increase rates.