DeSoto County votes to pause data center growth for one year

DESOTO COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — DeSoto County commissioners voted to move forward with a one-year moratorium on data centers.

The county attorney will now draft the moratorium language. Two public meetings will be held before commissioners take a final vote on whether to approve 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 commissioners will hold two public meetings before making their final decision on the moratorium.