NoDataCenterFL

MEET WITH YOUR COMMISSIONER

You do not need to be an expert. You need to make the ask.

IN-PERSON MEETING SCRIPT

OPENING

Hello Commissioner ________.

My name is ________, and I live in ________ County.

I'm here because I'm asking you to support bringing an Escambia-style resolution before our County Commission and ultimately support a full prohibition on hyperscale and large-scale data centers.

USE ESCAMBIA AS THE PROOF OF CONCEPT

Escambia County has already addressed this issue. Their County Commission adopted Resolution 2026-71 and later enacted Ordinance 2026-30 banning large-scale data centers within the unincorporated county.

I brought copies of those documents with me today.

WHY ESCAMBIA ACTED

Escambia identified concerns involving:

  • extraordinary electrical capacity;
  • significant water resources;
  • expanded wastewater capacity;
  • substantial utility infrastructure;
  • transmission improvements;
  • demands on finite public infrastructure;
  • natural resources;
  • and comparatively few permanent jobs relative to those infrastructure demands.

OUR ASK

I am asking you to support:

  1. Bringing an Escambia-style resolution before our County Commission.
  2. Directing our county attorney to review the Escambia ordinance and Florida law.
  3. Preparing the appropriate legal mechanism for a full prohibition on hyperscale and large-scale data centers.
  4. Acting before a major development application is already underway.

ASK DIRECTLY

Commissioner: Will you support bringing this issue before the County Commission?

Then stop talking and allow the commissioner to answer.

COMMON RESPONSES

"We don't have a data center coming."

That's exactly why I believe this is the right time to act. The strongest time to establish land-use policy is before land has been purchased, applications have been filed, infrastructure agreements are underway, or substantial investment has already occurred.

"We can regulate them."

Regulation can address individual impacts, but it does not eliminate the fundamental electricity, water, wastewater, utility, transmission, and infrastructure requirements associated with developments of this scale. I am asking the county to determine whether hyperscale development is an appropriate land use here at all.

"We need economic development."

We support economic development that provides broad and lasting community benefit. Escambia County specifically considered the relationship between substantial infrastructure demands and the comparatively limited number of permanent employment opportunities these facilities may create. The county should evaluate the net long-term benefit to residents.

"I'm not sure we can ban them."

Would you support asking the county attorney to review the Escambia County ordinance and provide the commission with a formal legal analysis? Escambia County has already enacted an express prohibition. We are asking our county to evaluate the same question rather than assume we cannot act.

CLOSING

Thank you for meeting with me. I would appreciate knowing whether you will support placing this issue on the agenda or requesting a legal review. I will follow up with your office.

MEETING NOTES

Commissioner:

Date:

Supports Resolution: □ Yes □ No □ Undecided

Supports Legal Review: □ Yes □ No □ Undecided

Supports Full Ban: □ Yes □ No □ Undecided

Follow-up Requested:

Notes:

Next Step:

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