Edgewater city leaders have approved a ban on artificial intelligence data centres, moving to block large-scale developments before any company submits a proposal to build one in the Florida city.
The city council voted unanimously on Monday, September 14, to impose the prohibition with immediate effect. Mayor Diezel DePew described it as a permanent moratorium, although the ordinance could be overturned by a future council.
The measure is intended to remain in place until residents vote on a proposed change to the city charter in November. The charter proposal, approved by the council in August, would formally prohibit data centres under a new section of the city’s governing document.
Edgewater data centre ban takes immediate effect
City officials said they wanted to act before developers could seek permission for a project, citing uncertainty over the long-term effect of large artificial intelligence facilities on residents and local services.
“We’re going to make sure that we don’t have any kind of negative developments impacting our lives,” Mr DePew said.
Council member Eric Rainbird said the temporary measure was necessary to prevent an application being lodged before voters had the opportunity to decide on the charter amendment.
“We’re doing this now to stop a data centre company from coming in here before the November ballot and putting an application in,” he said.
Mr DePew acknowledged that the current ordinance could be changed by the five-member council. He said placing the prohibition in the charter would give it greater permanence unless residents later voted to amend it.
“We do have a permanent ban, a permanent moratorium, but what you need to understand is five members can change that,” he said. “If it’s in our city charter, the residents voted for that, it’s the law of the land.”
Edgewater’s decision comes amid a wider debate in Central Florida over the expansion of energy-intensive computing infrastructure. Titusville and Flagler County have also taken steps to restrict data centre development.
Orange County commissioners were due to consider a proposed 12-month moratorium on artificial intelligence data centres on Tuesday, September 15.
