DeSoto commissioners move forward with proposed one-year data center moratorium

DESOTO COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — DeSoto County commissioners voted to direct the county attorney to draft a proposed one-year moratorium on new data centers.

The moratorium has not been fully approved. Commissioners will hold two public meetings before taking a final vote on whether to adopt it.

"You're the people," Commissioner Judy Schaefer said. "You're my friends. This is my county, I don't take this lightly. There have been lots of things said out there. It's about what is right. I'm all for the moratorium."

The commissioner meeting started at 3 p.m. For over two hours, neighbors from DeSoto and Charlotte counties pleaded with commissioners to make the moratorium permanent instead of temporary.

The meeting room was packed to the brim with only a few seats available. Residents raised concerns about water pollution, air pollution, wildlife endangerment and power usage.

Neighbors stressed that DeSoto County is a rural community and does not have the space or water to support data center development.

"Water is our lifeblood," Sam Terpening said. "If the plants, crops and trees don't get water, they wither and die. When you destroy the water, you destroy the future. Our irreplaceable wetlands are burning underground. Protect our animals and protect our lives."

Euguene Turner Jr. of Arcadia also spoke at the meeting.

"Y'all are supposed to vote on a moratorium today," Turner said. "When I read it, it made me happy, but then I realized we don't need a moratorium for one year; we need it permanently! This could affect your children, your wife and yourself, yet we want to give it all away. This is not just y'all's county, this is our county as well."

The county will schedule two public meetings on the draft moratorium before commissioners make a final decision.

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that DeSoto County commissioners approved a one-year moratorium on data centers. Commissioners voted to have the county attorney draft a proposed moratorium, which will return for public meetings and a final vote.