PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — The Pasco County Planning Commission voted unanimously Thursday to recommend a 12-month pause on any new data center development.
At a standing-room only meeting at the historic Pasco County Courthouse, the planning commission heard hours of public comment on whether to recommend a moratorium on new AI data center construction in the county.
For more than three and a half hours, county residents voiced their support for the year-long pause.
They cited concerns with rising energy costs, energy availability, and potential environmental hazards.
Marilyn Holleran, Pasco County president of the Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida, said, “We’re kind of united on this issue right now. I have no recollection of talking to somebody who is like, ‘Yay, AI hyper-scale data centers. Let’s go.'”
One resident suggested a pause lasting longer than a year.
“I applaud y’all for putting the brakes on. Make it three years, really study this,” said Darrell Pennington. “And study what y’all are letting happen to us lifelong residents that’s been here forever.”
Only one person spoke against the moratorium — a developer from Fort Lauderdale who is hoping to start up a data center in Pasco County.
Thursday’s vote was just a recommendation. The moratorium now has to go before county commissioners at their next two meetings on June 16 and July 14.
More public comment is expected at those meetings.
Spectrum News Staff
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