DeSoto County may pause new data center projects over water, noise fears

DESOTO COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — DeSoto County could soon hit pause on most new data center projects.

WINK News is expecting a vote on stopping data centers, at least for a while. If approved, the moratorium would give the county time to study the impacts before projects move forward.

The big questions come down to water, power and what these large data centers could mean for DeSoto County long term.

A packed room at the June 9 commission meeting showed strong opinions. Signs filled the crowd as neighbors stepped up to the mic, many raising concerns about the environmental impacts of large data centers.

After that meeting, WINK News spoke with the company behind the proposed project. DCIP's spokesperson Erica Robinson said they've heard the concerns.

"I think there are a lot of concerns today, primarily about water and about noise, and those are legitimate concerns, and they're concerns that are being actively addressed in a sustainable manner," Robinson said.

That's exactly what the county wants to address during the potential moratorium. In the agenda packet, the county says it currently does not have specific rules for large data centers.

That includes questions about water use, power demand, infrastructure, wastewater, emergency services, environmental impacts and noise. Some neighbors say this pause is a chance to make sure the county gets it right.

"I think the moratorium is a very good start. It gives the county commissioners time to really dig into this and figure out exactly what's best for DeSoto County," Pastor Nathan Hendrick said. "It kind of slows things down a little bit, and I'm thankful to see them do that."

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. WINK News will be inside tracking the vote and what commissioners say they want to learn during this potential pause.