Alachua County provides update on data centers
Press release from Alachua County
ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Alachua County is aware that many residents are concerned about whether large-scale data centers are allowed under the County’s current development rules and what public process would be required before they could be considered. The County Commission is also concerned about these facilities.
In Alachua County, large-scale data centers are not allowed under the current Comprehensive Plan or land development code. When the plan and code were adopted, large-scale data centers were not listed as a potential use in any zoning district. While uses that are similar to listed uses may be allowed under the County’s land development code, large-scale data centers are not similar to other allowed uses based on factors such as size, intensity, operating hours, traffic impacts, and demands on public services. Because of this, they cannot be built unless the County updates both the Comprehensive Plan and the land development code.
State Legislation on Data Centers
Earlier this year, the Florida Legislature passed a bill on data centers, which establishes basic definitions and standards for large-scale data centers and continues to allow local governments, including Alachua County, to decide where these facilities may be located through their own plans and codes. The bill goes into effect on July 1, 2026.
How the Public Hearing Process Works
Any amendment to the County’s Comprehensive Plan or land development code to allow large-scale data centers must go through a public process. This applies whether the request comes from a private applicant or is initiated by County staff:
- Planning Commission hearing — The Planning Commission holds a public hearing and makes a recommendation to the County Commission regarding proposed amendments to the County’s Comprehensive Plan.
- County Commission transmittal hearing — For amendments to the Comprehensive Plan, the County Commission holds two public hearings. The first hearing is to transmit the amendment to state agencies for additional review. At this hearing, the Board will consider the impacts of the amendment, and the public will be given the opportunity to participate.
- Adoption hearing — Ultimately, the County Commission decides whether to adopt an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan at a second hearing after state review. At these hearings, the County Commission generally considers issues such as impacts on traffic, utilities, the environment, and other infrastructure, as well as the proposed use’s compatibility with surrounding uses. This hearing also includes opportunities for public participation.
How to Stay Informed
Residents can follow this topic by:
- Signing up for County press releases, meeting notices, and the newsletter
- Checking the County website for agendas and reports
- Signing up for email notifications or data center projects
- Signing up for “My Alachua County” text alerts
- Attending public hearings
- Following the County on social media (Facebook, Instagram, X, and Nextdoor)
It was SB 484. It’s a great piece of legislation especially for this county!
“SB 484 ensures that local governments maintain the authority to reject data center development in their communities, prevents data center costs from being passed on to consumers, including electricity costs, and protects Florida’s water resources from data center consumption.”
https://www.flgov.com/eog/news/press/2026/governor-ron-desantis-signs-law-protect-floridians-subsidizing-data-centers
The county press release headline says “Large scale data centers”….
Get ready for the deceivers’ next headline to allow “small scale data centers”…
How did the taxpayers & ratepayers fare when Hanrahan pushed biomass to stop global warming? It ruined GRU, put us a $billion in debt, &. DeSantis had to save us with the utility authority…
They want data centers & AI to enslave us for the greater good and end homelessness, end world hunger, & stop climate change…
Say no to vaccine passports!
Face masks 😷, social distancing, and vaccine passports 💉 are very dystopian.
If we are already concerned about water for People, Farm Animals and Crops and yet somehow the powers of wisdom still wishing for Data Centers that are truly Toxic to People and the Environment You bare supposed to care about
Wait, don’t you remember Covid?!? Gov’t locked us down. Forbid us to gather. Masks were pointless, then mandatory. Social distance = safety. Weddings, churches funerals? Restricted, too dangerous. Shamed us for seeing our family. But liquor stores? Totally safe.
Enter George Floyd riots: thousands packed streets shoulder-to-shoulder. Suddenly, rules? Not important. Same people who lectured dangers of gatherings, suddenly explaining why these gatherings were different. Totally safe.
The (fraudulent) science didn’t change. The politics did.
Declarations from Alachua County about data centers? Today: large data centers are unacceptable. Tomorrow, they’ll be essential:
They strengthen the tax base! Will help solve GRU’s debt! Lower electric rates! Create jobs! Protect the environment! Somehow even benefit the springs!
Details change, justifications change, the people delivering the message will pretend they’ve been consistent. What is forbidden today will be mandatory tomorrow. That’s how government operates when there’s money (for them) on the line.
You can set your watch by it.
Re: Covid
I always expect corporations and government to pull stunts like that. What I failed to anticipate, and still find it hard to accept, was the docile sheep that collectively fell in line. People of all demographics and ideologies gave up on themselves and our way of life due to overwhelming propaganda that pushed the collective wellbeing narrative.
The nascent surveillance network, Flock, is named that for a reason…the sheep better wake up fast!
Right on!
No data centers in Alachua County! We all know they would be built on the east side of town, but Eastside residents don’t want that crap over here! Research videos on the noise they produce. The only good thing I can say about that is maybe it would drown out some of the ridiculously loud bass from cars over here. For some reason, the noise ordinance applies to every other part of Gainesville except the east side.
I know local government will double cross us, they always do…
Remember the tire burning cement kiln incinerator in Newberry?
What if UF wants to host or partner with a new data center on their land? They own rural tracts all over, including the Parker Rd golf course development and Austin Carey Forest.
Some tech sites say data centers can be built on water, for cooling more efficiently, rather than on land which requires pumping groundwater. Surface lakes might be easier on the water table, but who wants to look out their windows and see a giant bldg floating on their lake?
Data centers on the Moon offer several advantages over those on Earth.
Energy Efficiency
Lunar data centers can utilize abundant solar power and natural cooling, significantly reducing energy consumption compared to terrestrial data centers, which require substantial electricity and water for cooling
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Data Security
Storing data on the Moon can protect sensitive information from Earthly hazards, such as natural disasters or cyber threats, making it a safer option for critical data
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Reduced Land Use
By relocating data centers to the Moon, the need for large land areas on Earth is diminished, addressing local opposition to data center construction
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Future Growth Potential
As space exploration advances, lunar data centers could support both Earth and outer space data processing needs, paving the way for new technological developments
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