Jacksonville City Council, JEA, and Planners Address Public Concerns Over Hyperscale Data Centers
Jacksonville City Council members, JEA officials, and city planners recently convened to address residents' questions regarding the potential impacts of large-scale data centers on the city. JEA has received approximately 50 inquiries about data centers, none of which are currently considered 'hyperscale' facilities. A hyperscale data center typically requires at least 50 megawatts of power, a capacity JEA does not currently possess. Jordan Pope, JEA’s interim chief administrator, stated that the utility would need to construct a new substation to support such a facility. Residents voiced concerns about increased water usage, potential pollution, noise, and the possibility of existing JEA customers bearing the costs of infrastructure improvements. City Councilman Jimmy Peluso suggested a possible moratorium on new data center projects while the city researches the issue and considers new regulations. He also proposed forming a working group comprising City Council, the Planning Department, and JEA to devel...
