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Data center siting news for the Southeast

Lakeland moratorium

Polk Co., FL · 10 stories · first tracked 2024-10-10 · last activity 2026-09-15
No project stage is auto-generated. What follows is the timeline of record — every entry dated, cited and linked to its source.

Timeline of record

  • Sep 15
    LAWSUIT·Polk Co., FL
    A 22-year-old Florida woman who flew to California to meet a car-show organizer died alongside him in a fiery high-speed McLaren crash in Irvine early Sunday. Authorities are investigating what caused the vehicle to lose control, strike a curb and tree, then catch fire near Culver Drive and Deerfield Avenue.
    al.com · Polk Co., FL
  • Sep 13
    UTILITIES·Duval Co., FL
    The Data Center Revolt bus tour, led by Humans First chair Amy Kremer, arrives in Jacksonville as Florida's fourth stop on a 31-stop national route opposing data center development. Florida has already enacted SB 484, requiring data centers to cover their own utility and infrastructure costs while giving local governments zoning authority, with several counties implementing outright bans or moratoriums on such facilities.
    Florida Politics · Duval Co., FL
  • Sep 4
    NEWS·Polk Co., FL
    Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds campaigned at Born & Bread Bakehouse in Lakeland, meeting with supporters for over an hour. He faces Democratic nominee David Jolly and NPA candidate Frank Russo in the November general election.
    Lakeland Gazette · Polk Co., FL
  • Aug 31
    MORATORIUM·Florida
    Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly released an ad contrasting his proposed data center moratorium with Republican opponent Byron Donalds' support for the facilities, which Jolly links to campaign donations from the industry. University of North Florida polling shows 68% of Florida voters oppose data centers in their area.
    Florida Politics · Florida · also at The Miami Times, The Miami Times
  • Aug 31
    MORATORIUM·Florida
    U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody says local governments should decide whether to allow data centers in their communities, a campaign issue that has generated significant controversy. Moody stated that data center companies must make their case to residents and address concerns about costs, environmental impact, and health effects.
    Florida Politics · Florida
  • Aug 29
    MORATORIUM·Florida
    Gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds said he will respect local government decisions to ban data centers if elected, while pledging to share detailed information about the facilities with Floridians. Multiple Florida counties and cities have already enacted data center bans or moratoriums.
    Florida Politics · Florida · also at The Miami Times, The Miami Times
  • Aug 12
    MORATORIUM·Polk Co., FL
    Florida gubernatorial candidates from both parties are addressing voter backlash against large artificial intelligence data center construction, with some calling for moratoriums or bans while others propose alternative regulations. A July University of North Florida poll found 68% of likely voters would oppose building an AI data center in their local area, while four counties have adopted temporary moratoriums on such projects.
    Lakeland Gazette · Polk Co., FL · also at The Apopka Voice
  • Aug 6
    MORATORIUM·Florida
    The Hillsborough County Commission voted unanimously to request a one-year moratorium on data centers to study their impact on communities and the environment, with commissioners citing concerns about water supply, noise, electricity, and wildlife effects. The county currently has no pending data center applications and would join several other Florida counties and municipalities with similar restrictions.
    FOX 13 Tampa Bay · Florida
  • Aug 3
    MORATORIUM·Polk Co., FL
    Lakeland commissioners voted 4-3 on August 3, 2026, to implement a one-year moratorium on new data centers and other businesses using at least 50 megawatts of electricity, citing public concerns about impacts on infrastructure and utility customers.
    LkldNow · Polk Co., FL
  • Oct 10
    NEWS·Polk Co., FL
    Headline onlyLakeland Ledger · Polk Co., FL