PROJECT TANGO: Commissioners press developer on noise, water use at AI data center hearing

Palm Beach County commissioners held a crucial hearing for "Project Tango," a proposed AI data center in Loxahatchee, Florida, focusing on developer accountability regarding water usage, low-frequency noise, and the project's overall size. The vote, expected today, follows a county judge's denial of an emergency request to prevent commissioners from considering the controversial project. Developers had revised their plans, repositioning buildings and cooling equipment further from nearby residences and Saddle View Elementary School.

During the hearing, the applicant's attorney, Brian Seymour, argued the request was an allocation of permitted uses, claiming data processing was already allowed. However, county staff contested this, stating the application sought to add approximately 1.5 million square feet to the existing master plan, which is currently approved for 2,020,000 square feet of Economic Development Center uses. Commissioner Joel G. Flores questioned whether the county's current zoning definitions adequately address modern AI infrastructure, suggesting the project represents "something new."

Commissioners also scrutinized water use projections; while the data processing portion of the closed-loop cooling system would use minimal daily water for employees, the warehouse component projected significantly higher daily usage (50,000 gallons), prompting questions about staffing levels. The applicant clarified that the closed-loop system requires a one-time 650,000-gallon fill. Noise concerns, particularly low-frequency sounds, were a major point of contention, with commissioners pressing experts on whether a constant hum would be perceptible to nearby residents and students, despite projections meeting county standards.

The applicant pledged to conduct pre- and post-operation noise studies and mitigate any failures to meet conditions. Commissioner Flores also revealed receiving threatening calls related to the project, highlighting the community's intense divisions. Residents like Linda Hart from the Arden community expressed ongoing anxieties about the project's impact on their health and property values, despite the commissioners' thorough questioning.