Full Breakdown
Lake County Moves Toward a One-Year Pause on New Data Centers
6/29/2026, 6:42:47 AM
Proposed Moratorium on Data Center Development
Lake County commissioners are preparing to vote on a one-year moratorium that would temporarily halt the approval of large data center projects. The measure, introduced by Commissioner Anthony Sabatini, is slated for a likely unanimous vote at the July 14 Board of County Commissioners meeting. Sabatini emphasized that the pause is intended to allow the county to gather more information before deciding on long-term policy.
Background and Legislative Context
Florida has seen a wave of data-center restrictions in recent years. At the end of the 2025 legislative session, Senate Bill 180 was enacted with minimal debate. Originally framed as a tool to facilitate rebuilding after the 2024 hurricane season, the bill now serves as a barrier to outright bans on data-center construction. To avoid violating SB 180, Sabatini proposed a temporary moratorium rather than a permanent prohibition. Several neighboring counties—Citrus, Nassau, and Pasco—have already adopted similar pauses.
Key Officials and Stakeholders
- Anthony Sabatini – Commissioner who introduced the moratorium proposal.
- Kirby Smith – Commissioner who suggested the term “pause” and advocated for reclaimed-water requirements.
- Leslie Campione – Chair of the Lake County Commission, supporting the research-focused pause.
- CoreSite – American Tower subsidiary planning a new data-center building on its Orlando campus in adjacent Orange County.
- South Florida Water Management District – Agency that received CoreSite’s site-plan filings.
- Langan Engineering and Environmental Services – New Jersey firm that prepared CoreSite’s site plans.
Data and Statistics on Data-Center Activity
- Twelve applications for “large data centers” were filed statewide in the past year.
- Lake County currently has no existing data centers and no pending applications.
- CoreSite’s proposed expansion in Orange County would add approximately 76,280 sq ft of new space to an existing facility of more than 129,000 sq ft.
Official Statements & Responses
- Sabatini clarified his intent: he is not seeking an outright ban but a moratorium to assess potential impacts. He noted the expiration of SB 180 on October 1, 2027 as a future decision point.
- Smith urged that any future data-center projects be required to use reclaimed water, arguing that non-compliance would violate existing codes.
- Campione expressed unanimous support for the pause, emphasizing the need for research on environmental, resident-quality-of-life, and utility impacts before proceeding.
Criticism and Environmental Concerns
Critics have highlighted the substantial water and electricity demands of data-center facilities. Smith’s reclaimed-water condition reflects broader apprehension that new projects could strain local utilities and affect the county’s environmental sustainability.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While Sabatini asserts that Lake County has no current or pending data-center projects, CoreSite’s expansion plans in neighboring Orange County illustrate ongoing regional growth. The sources do not provide specific estimates of water or power consumption for the proposed facilities, leaving a quantitative gap in assessing the true environmental impact.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I’m not asking for an outright ban, I think we start with a moratorium and take a look at this,” — Anthony Sabatini, Commissioner
- “One I would like to see is that we mandate they have to use reclaimed water, plain and simple,” — Kirby Smith, Commissioner
- “If they don’t use reclaimed water, then it would go against the code anyway.” — Kirby Smith, Commissioner
- “I’m all in favor of us saying, from our standpoint in Lake County, that until we have more information and understand this better and know exactly how this could affect the environment, our residents, our quality of life, all of those issues we’re concerned about, we definitely take a pause on this and do research,” — Leslie Campione, Commission Chair
What’s Next
County staff will draft the moratorium ordinance for consideration at the July 14 meeting. If approved, the pause will remain in effect until October 1, 2027, when the county must decide whether to lift, extend, or replace the moratorium with a permanent regulatory framework. Meanwhile, the CoreSite expansion proceeds under separate permitting processes in Orange County.
