Florida secretary of commerce raises concerns over $2.6B Fort Meade data center plan

The Fort Meade City Commission in Florida has conditionally approved a development agreement for a large $2.6 billion data center project, despite significant community opposition. The proposed 4,000,000-square-foot facility, planned for a 1,300-acre former phosphate mine, has drawn criticism from local residents and the "Watchdogs of Fort Meade" group, who express disappointment over the decision. Adding to the controversy, Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly wrote to Fort Meade Mayor Jaret Williams, raising "red flags" about the project. Kelly stated that the data center presents substantial risks to central Florida's energy capacity, water resources, and transportation infrastructure, calling the project "fundamentally flawed" and its benefits unclear. He also suggested the developer, Florida Ecopark LLC, has severely underestimated the facility's water demand, which is projected at 50,000 gallons per day. Commissioner Candice Lott clarified that her vote was for a development agreement outlining city safeguards, not full project approval. The project still requires multiple levels of review and permits from various agencies, including the Southwest Florida Water Management District. These state and regional approvals will need to address the concerns raised by the Department of Commerce before any development can commence, with Duke Energy expected to power the facility.