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NewsSuncoast SearchlightJune 18, 2026DeSoto

DeSoto County Considers Pause on Massive Data Center Project

DeSoto County officials are considering a temporary moratorium on new data center applications following concerns over an accelerated review process and the environmental impact of a proposed 800-acre facility. The project, which would be powered by on-site natural gas turbines, has faced criticism from residents and former officials who argue the county is moving too quickly without sufficient study.

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Why It Matters

Commissioners will vote on June 23 whether to pause all data center applications, which could halt a project developers claim would be one of the largest in the world and a major source of local tax revenue.

Key Facts

  • Commissioners will vote on a proposed moratorium on data center applications at the June 23 meeting.
  • The proposed data center project has expanded from an initial 34 acres to over 800 acres.
  • The project includes plans for natural-gas turbines capable of generating up to 4 gigawatts of electricity.
  • County staff emails indicate the review timeline was intentionally accelerated to meet board direction.
  • The county interpreted local growth plan rules to classify the project as a private entity rather than a public utility, bypassing restrictions on rezoning agricultural land for power plants.
  • The project's water usage is estimated between zero and 3 million gallons per day, according to the developer.
  • DeSoto County has a 22% poverty rate and has seen a 90% decline in citrus production over the last decade.
  • Other Florida counties, including Pasco, Nassau, and Citrus, have recently pursued similar bans on data centers.

Who's Mentioned

organizationDCIP Group“The developer proposing the data center project.”personMisty Servia“County Planning Director.”personJon Brown“CEO of DCIP Group.”personJerod Gross“County Commissioner who added the moratorium proposal to the agenda.”locationDeSoto County“Local government body currently reviewing the data center proposal.”personEd Johnson“Former DeSoto County Commissioner advocating for the moratorium.”personAshley Taylor“County Planning Technician.”personAlexandria Reed“Arcadia resident who spoke against the project at a commission meeting.”