St. Pete-Clearwater Sun

Fort Meade city commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve a developer agreement for what would be Florida’s first hyperscale data center, advancing a project that drew strong opposition from residents at the meeting.

The proposed facility would span 4.4 million square feet on a 1,300-acre former phosphate mine just west of U.S. 98 in Polk County, at an estimated cost of $2.6 billion. Developers say the project could generate nearly 500 jobs by 2031. Polk County has also approved $140 million in tax incentives over 10 years tied to the development.

More than 40 residents signed up to speak at Tuesday’s public comment session, with all but one voicing opposition. Several said they felt misled, believing they still had an opportunity to influence the outcome, only to learn the decision had effectively been set by a prior city administration. Resident Tyler Hancock said he felt it was important to voice concerns about the potential harm the project could cause the city.

Supporters, including Sean Malott of the Central Florida Development Council, argued the project represents a meaningful economic opportunity for the area.

Residents raised concerns about noise and light pollution, water usage, heat emissions, traffic, and potential health impacts. The developer said the nearest building would be approximately half a mile from the facility and noted that the project’s water usage has been reduced from a projected 150,000 gallons per day to 50,000 gallons per day through a closed-loop cooling system. The Southwest Florida Water Management District said those changes will still require separate regulatory approval.

The identity of the data center’s ultimate operator has not been disclosed. The project is expected to be powered by Duke Energy, separate from the Florida Municipal Power Agency that currently serves Fort Meade residents.

The developer agreement approved Tuesday focuses on infrastructure improvements and community benefits. Before construction can begin, the project must still obtain permits from the city of Fort Meade, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and Polk County. Some residents are calling on commissioners to revisit the original decision made by the previous administration.

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