‘Take a Breath’: Experts Weigh In on Data Center Moratorium

The Lakeland City Commission is considering a 12-month moratorium on data centers and other large-load customers that demand more than 50 megawatts of electricity monthly. At the first official reading of the ordinance, officials from Lakeland Electric and the city's water utility provided insights into the potential impacts, with Mayor Sara Roberts McCarley highlighting the benefit of local utility control in this decision-making process.

Scott Bishop, assistant general manager for energy delivery at Lakeland Electric, expressed support for the moratorium, citing concerns about power reliability and affordability for existing customers. Bishop characterized a 100-megawatt customer as an "extreme case" that current infrastructure could not handle without "herculean" efforts, describing it as an "unprecedented" challenge. He also noted that the moratorium would allow the city to align its future policies with forthcoming federal guidelines on large-load interconnection.

Water utilities director Joe Costine addressed concerns about water usage, while Commissioner Mike Musick underscored the growing scarcity of affordable water in the region. Commissioners Chad McLeod and Ashley Troutman questioned the necessity of the moratorium, with Troutman cautioning that it might deter beneficial projects requiring substantial infrastructure. City Attorney Palmer Davis clarified that significant changes to the proposed ordinance would necessitate restarting the public hearing process.

Despite internal commission debate, the majority of the 19 residents who spoke publicly at the meeting urged approval of the year-long pause, with a few advocating for a longer moratorium or an outright ban. Mayor McCarley also publicly refuted accusations of non-disclosure agreements, graft, and corruption related to the project, assuring that financial disclosures are mandated by state law.