BROOKSVILLE – The opponents of large-scale data centers were happy on Tuesday, June 23, as the Hernando County Commission approved a one-year moratorium on data centers.
The roll-call vote was 4-0. A replacement still hasn’t been appointed to fill the seat of former County Commissioner Brian Hawkins, who had to resign to run for State House.
Development Services Director Omar DePablo said the time would allow staff to either review internally or hire appropriate entities to look at how data centers affect critical public facilities. Before the end date of the moratorium, the Planning Division plans to bring any necessary amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and/or revisions to the Land Development Regulations to the County Commission.
Public commenters noted that governmental bodies in other counties in the state have moved against data centers, including Citrus County and Jackson County. Senior Planner Michelle Miller told the commissioners that Pasco County, which is working on its own moratorium, has asked Hernando County for help in producing its own moratorium.
Commenters and commissioners cited reports of possible impacts on the water supply, the electric bills of residents, wildlife and the health of people living near the centers.
County Commissioner John Allocco said the noise from data centers includes low-frequency noise that people can’t hear but can feel and that such noise could have serious impacts on adults and children.
Other concerns centered around the source of computer chips for the centers, especially if the chips come from China, and the possibility that the government could use the centers to process surveillance data on American citizens.
Clear favorite
All of the anti-center arguments were repeated from previous meetings, and even before public comment was taken it was clear that commissioners were in favor of the moratorium.
Some asked for an outright ban on the centers, but County Attorney Jon Jouben noted that such an act would be a “taking” under the Bert J. Harris Act; a moratorium is not a taking if it’s one year or less, he said.
The only way to regulate the centers, Jouben explained, is through the comprehensive planning and zoning process. You can’t just ban them; you have to follow the process, he said. “This gives us time to do this.”
“I’m not crazy about what they’re doing with the technology,” County Commissioner Steve Champion said in his criticism of the date centers. “That’s the thing that bothers me the most. We have to protect ourselves.”
DeeVon Quirolo of the Sierra Club said she was happy that they’re on the same page with the commission.
“We all agree that an ordinance is needed. A moratorium as a first step is a smart move,” she said. “It will enable us to draft an ordinance that will protect the citizens, protect our wildlife, protect our water resources and hopefully not even have mega-hyperscale data centers in Hernando. It’s not a good fit.”
The Sierra Club is trying to promote something that works for the community. A recent bill that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed allows counties to ban the very big ones, and the way for counties to protect themselves is to allow small data centers that use closed water systems and solar power and don’t produce dangerous consequences for health and wildlife.
“That’s what Sierra Club is trying to promote,” she said. “Something that works for the community.”
Patricia Zirhut said she’s very glad and very happy, and that it’s a step in the right direction.
“I still believe that they need to ban them,” she said. “We’ve been using ‘AI’ for a very long time for small facilities and there’s a lot more data centers that they’re putting in here compared to what China already has. So why are they doing this? Why do they need so many of these data centers?”
It’s not just for AI, she said. “They,” which could mean the government, she said, would like us to have no money and have cards. “Just like China does with their people.”