Pasco County commissioners are taking up a proposal Tuesday that would freeze approvals for new data center projects for one year, including facilities tied to artificial intelligence technologies.
The ordinance would prevent new data center applications from moving forward for 12 months while county leaders study the potential impacts of the rapidly growing industry and consider future regulations.
The proposal follows a recommendation from the Pasco County Planning Commission last week, where public support for the moratorium was strong. Only one speaker opposed the measure — a Fort Lauderdale-based developer with plans to build a data center in the county.
Commissioners will hear the first reading of the ordinance, accept public comments, and discuss the proposal Tuesday, with a final vote expected in July.
The move fits into a broader statewide conversation about data center growth. During this year’s legislative session, Florida approved a law — taking effect July 1 — that prevents electric utilities from passing data center operating costs on to residential customers and gives local governments authority to adopt stricter regulations for data center development.
Supporters of the moratorium point to the facilities’ significant demand for electricity and water, along with potential environmental impacts, while technology experts counter that data centers are essential to supporting the expansion of AI and other digital services.
Dr. John Licato, an associate professor at USF’s Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Computing, urged a balanced approach. “AI is not just used for memes and video generation. It’s a very real technology that can really benefit all of our lives,” he said, adding that communities will need to weigh those benefits against the infrastructure’s environmental footprint.
The proposed moratorium reflects a broader national trend, with local governments increasingly adopting 12-month pauses to allow time for research, public input, and the development of policies governing data center construction. A final decision from Pasco County commissioners is expected this summer.
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