By Guy LaLonde Jr., Lakeland City Commissioner
MY PERSONAL OPINION: LAKELAND SHOULD CONSIDER A ONE-YEAR MORATORIUM ON NEW LARGE-SCALE AND HYPERSCALE DATA CENTER APPLICATIONS
Before I share my thoughts, I want to make something clear. These are my personal opinions and mine alone. While I am honored to serve as your City Commissioner, I cannot and do not speak on behalf of the entire City Commission or the City of Lakeland. Each Commissioner is entitled to their own views, and any official action of the City can only occur through the public process.
One thing I have always encouraged is civic engagement. Whether you agree with me, disagree with me, or are still making up your mind, I appreciate residents taking the time to become informed, ask questions, and participate in discussions that help shape the future of our community.
Over the past several weeks, I have spent a great deal of time listening to residents, reviewing information from around the country, speaking with stakeholders, and researching the opportunities and challenges associated with large-scale and hyperscale AI data center developments.
Based on what I know today, I believe Lakeland should begin a community discussion about whether a one-year moratorium on new large-scale and hyperscale data center applications is appropriate.
A moratorium is not a ban. It is a temporary pause that would allow time to gather facts, conduct independent studies, engage the public, and establish safeguards before projects of this magnitude move forward.
Lakeland would not be the first community to consider such an approach. Communities in Florida, including Pasco County and Citrus County, have discussed or pursued temporary moratoriums related to large-scale data center development as they evaluate infrastructure demands, utility impacts, water resources, transportation systems, and long-term planning considerations. I believe it is reasonable for Lakeland to have that same conversation and determine what safeguards may be appropriate for our community.
Florida’s recent passage of Senate Bill 484 recognizes the growing impact of large load customers and data centers while preserving local governments’ authority over comprehensive planning and land development regulations. I believe Lakeland should take the time necessary to fully understand what that means for our community.
During that year, I believe Lakeland should focus on several key areas.
Utility and Infrastructure
Electric grid capacity and reliability, generation requirements, transmission upgrades, substations, utility rate impacts, water supply, wastewater capacity, reclaimed water availability, and ensuring infrastructure costs are appropriately assigned and do not unfairly burden existing customers.
Transportation and Public Safety
Road capacity, traffic impacts, truck traffic, intersection improvements, emergency response considerations, and the long-term impacts on police, fire, and EMS resources.
Environmental Considerations
Water consumption, stormwater management, environmental impacts, resiliency planning, sustainability measures, and protection of natural resources.
Neighborhood Compatibility
Noise, lighting, buffering, setbacks, landscaping, design standards, visual impacts, and compatibility with surrounding residential and commercial areas.
Economic Impact
Construction jobs, permanent employment opportunities, tax revenue, local business participation, community benefits, and the overall long term economic value to Lakeland residents.
Future Safeguards
Standards for future expansion, protections for ratepayers, infrastructure cost recovery, development agreements, and policies that ensure growth does not outpace our ability to serve existing residents and businesses.
I also believe independent utility, environmental, transportation, economic, and water resource impact studies should be completed so that decisions are based on facts, data, and expert analysis rather than assumptions.
Growth is important. Innovation is important. Economic development is important. So is protecting our neighborhoods, infrastructure, natural resources, utility customers, and quality of life.
The decisions we make today could impact Lakeland for decades. Taking one year to do the homework is a reasonable investment in our community’s future.
Taking the time to get it right is not anti-growth. It is responsible planning.
I welcome respectful discussion from all perspectives and encourage residents to continue sharing their thoughts and concerns as we navigate this important conversation.
Lakeland eletric doesn’t have the capacity to support a data center. We are already buying power from other city’s during peak times and charging residents an extra fee for these services.
The data centers take millions of gallons of water to cool these servers and we are in a drought and on water restrictions as it is.
The site backs up to a residential area and the noise 24/7 is unavoidable and will distrub the residents and is unhealthy.
The site is a wetland and main water flow for the southwest water management district and currently has cows on it which is a very low impact on environment and local residents.
It’s cheap land and that’s why they want to make it a data center. Don’t be fooled it’s bad for all of us. The heat these data centers offset it’ll up to 6 degrees in the surrounding areas. Vote Not to approve. Your grandkids will thank you.