This is bipartisan issue isn’t going away.
Press Announcement: Concerned residents, environmental advocates and community members will gather at 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 11, at the corner of Palafox Street and Garden Street in downtown Pensacola for a peaceful protest opposing the development of large-scale data centers in Escambia County.
The rally, organized under the banner “Escambia County Residents Say No to Data Centers” aims to raise public awareness about the potential impacts data centers can have on local resources, infrastructure, and quality of life. Organizers say residents deserve a voice in decisions that could significantly affect the community’s future.
Participants will express concerns regarding increased demand on water supplies, electricity consumption, environmental impacts, noise and the long-term costs that large industrial facilities can place on local communities. The protest comes as data center developers continue seeking locations throughout the region.
- “We believe Pensacola’s future should be shaped by the people who live here,” said organizers. “Residents deserve transparency, meaningful public input, and careful consideration before major developments that could impact our environment and resources for generations.”
Community members are encouraged to attend, bring signs, and join neighbors in advocating for responsible growth and sustainable development.
Event Details
What: Escambia County Residents Say No to Data Centers Rally
When: 5 p.m., Thursday, June 11
Where: Corner of Palafox Street and Garden Street, Pensacola, Florida
Who: Concerned residents, environmental advocates, and community members
About Escambia County Residents Say No to Data Centers
Escambia County Residents Say No to Data Centers is a grassroots community effort dedicated to educating residents and advocating for transparency, environmental stewardship, and responsible development in Escambia County.
PASCO COUNTY
Axios reports that Pasco County commissioners are considering a one-year moratorium on large-scale data centers.
The commissioners have been inundated with emails from residents concerned about the water use, pollution and noise associated with such facilities.
If approved, the moratorium would halt permitting for large-scale data centers in unincorporated Pasco County for a year.
- County staff said it would allow time to evaluate the impact that data centers have on infrastructure, natural resources and the environment.
- The planning commission will discuss the moratorium at a public hearing scheduled for Thursday at 1:30pm. It will then go before the Board of County Commissioners for a vote on June 16.
Inweekly reported on the possibility of data centers coming to Escambia County in this week’s issue: Data Center Attracts Opposition.
I keep hearing comparisons of usa and china about ai stuffs. Do you know that china only has 300 or so data centers while usa has 4000+? Perhaps the fear of being left behind is ruining our patriotism of being a leader and destroying our future just to be the best.
I dont know about you but i am comfortable with being a leader while still protecting the land and resources that sustain our future. Maybe, instead of being the best at ai, we can be the best at ai defenses and land and environment conservation.
Heres the petition if you havent seen it yet.
https://www.change.org/p/escambia-county-residents-say-no-to-data-centers?utm_medium=custom_url&utm_source=share_petition&recruited_by_id=22a21c70-ec7f-11e6-b022-09967573f559&fbclid=IwVERDUASaRbJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR4EXHTEOHqBeJxyTiOiL6yFX0UssgdGYt7P3OZ9StT7QjbfzmpTYLfCZTmI5w_aem_YcbnuwTjRMzlAz7Dl3dnjg
It is short sighted to advocate for a total ban on even considering a data center. What should we should be advocating is the establishment of community requirements for an acceptable data center. Other communities are putting holds on new centers until local government can put in place zoning, code, and other regulations that govern what an acceptable center is. Things like noise abatement, pollution controls (even ordinances prohibiting petroleum fueled generators), water usage, power usage (levels of renewable energy required), etc.
The first ones built didn’t have these guardrails in place and they have given these centers a bad name. They can be built in a much more acceptable way. Look, we NEED these centers. Do you want China, with their total lack of regulation, to surpass the USA in AI and other technological advances? Communities need to be smart and come together to help America remain in the lead controlling its own destiny. I think some folks believe stopping data centers will stop AI development, well if it does stop them in the US get ready to learn Mandarin.