Palm Beach County planning staff have recommended that county commissioners approve the controversial Project Tango AI data center, despite months of opposition from residents in the western communities. The recommendation does not reflect a staff opinion on the merits of the project. County Mayor and Commissioner Sara Baxter, who represents the area where the center would be built, clarified that the staff recommendation simply indicates the project meets certain legal criteria required by county code. "It's not opinion-based. We have certain criteria within the county that has to be met, and all that is saying is that this project meets those certain criteria," Baxter said.
The proposed data center site sits approximately 1,100 feet from the Arden community and the recently opened Saddleview Elementary School. To reduce potential impacts on nearby residents, county staff are requiring the applicant to make several modifications to the plan. These required changes include limiting the use of potable water, implementing deeper safeguards for the types and exact placement of lithium iron batteries, conducting updated sound studies from the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, and restricting daily water use to 100,000 gallons per day. Despite these conditions, residents who oppose the hyperscale AI data center say the changes are insufficient. Resident Rachel Smith expressed skepticism about the modifications, stating "I appreciate that they're trying to fit within the boundaries of what they need to do, but again, I think it's all a farce." Another resident, Ben Brown, questioned why a heavy industrial process would be located in an area zoned for light industrial use.
Baxter, who has publicly opposed the project and must recuse herself from the vote, plans to push her fellow commissioners to establish a moratorium on future data centers until the county develops appropriate regulations. "I am going to ask my fellow commissioners to do a moratorium on data, any future data centers, until we get a grip on what these regulations should look like around data centers," Baxter said. She emphasized the importance of setting distances from residents and ensuring proper handling of water and power. However, Baxter confirmed that Project Tango would not fall under any approved moratorium. Some residents remain skeptical about Baxter's commitment. Ben Brown noted that if she succeeds in passing a moratorium, it would demonstrate genuine support for constituents. Smith added that multiple counties in Florida have already passed similar moratoriums.
The next step is a planning and zoning meeting scheduled for Thursday, July 2, which is expected to draw hundreds of protesters opposed to the project. Meanwhile, a new state law addressing large-scale data centers, CS/CS/SB 484, takes effect Wednesday, July 1, establishing new utility rules for "large load" customers and directing a state review of data-center impacts.