Florida Secretary of Commerce blasts newly-approved plan to build data center in Fort Meade
Florida's Secretary of Commerce, Alex Kelly, has strongly criticized the Fort Meade City Commission's recent approval of a hyperscale data center. Kelly raised concerns regarding the project's substantial power and water demands, which he believes the local infrastructure cannot support, and potential traffic issues. The Mayor, Jarrett Landon Williams, clarified that the city's approval is an initial step, with many further regulatory processes and community engagement opportunities remaining.
Florida's Secretary of Commerce, Alex Kelly, has publicly criticized the Fort Meade City Commission's recent decision to approve a plan for a new hyperscale data center, slated to span over 1,000 acres north of Fort Meade. The city commission's contentious vote on Tuesday night approved a deal for the 4.4 million square-foot complex, which would be the first hyperscale data center in Florida.
Secretary Kelly sent a letter to Mayor Jarrett Landon Williams, expressing significant concerns about the project. He stated that the estimated 1.2 gigawatts of power required would be "way too much for the current grid" and that the projected 50,000 gallons of water per day for cooling is "vastly underestimated." Additionally, Kelly warned of potential traffic nightmares for local residents, many of whom have already "fiercely protested" the data center.
Mayor Williams, in response, explained that the city's approval does not mean the data center project is a "done deal." He emphasized that "many steps are still left in this process" and encouraged the community to "stay engaged" as the project progresses through various regulatory hurdles.
One critical step remaining for the developer, Stone Bridge, is obtaining a permit from the Southwest Florida Water Management District to draw the necessary water volume daily.