DeSoto County neighbors push back on 1,000-acre data center plan

ARCADIA, Fla. (WINK)—Developers are pitching one of the world's biggest data centers in DeSoto County.

WINK News was the only television station invited to an exclusive meeting Monday night at the Turner Center in Arcadia. The meeting was held just down the road from where a company wants to build a data center that could span more than 1,000 acres.

The project has sparked controversy among neighbors. Developers are now trying to change minds about the facility.

• RELATED: Arcadia man sues DeSoto County to block AI data center in neighborhood

Alexandria Reed has attended multiple meetings speaking against the massive data center plans. Monday night, she heard from a man some call the "godfather of data centers."

"It's been an incredible opportunity for us to build a better community," said Buddy Rizer, economic development director for Loudon County, Virginia.

Rizer oversees economic development in Loudon County, Virginia, known as the data center capital of the world. He said data centers increased cash flow in his county, now making up almost half of the county's tax revenue.

The increased revenue allowed the county to cut property taxes while creating thousands of new jobs.

"Data centers are the single best way to grow your economy," Rizer said.

Some DeSoto County neighbors are raising concerns about the facility's environmental impact. They are questioning how much water and electricity it will use.

Rizer said new facilities are designed to use less water and power. When asked if data centers increase air temperature by seven degrees, Rizer said his community hasn't seen that.

Reed said the meeting didn't change her mind. She still has questions, including how much water the facility will actually use.

"There was a lot that was not answered," Reed said.

Asha Talnaker would live right next to the facility. She said the meeting didn't change anything for her.

"We're a very rural community and we really want to keep it that way," Talnaker said.

County commissioners already approved one phase of the project that's 34 acres. They still have to decide on rezoning for the next phase of the project, which could grow to more than 1,000 acres.