NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. – Nassau County leaders have set up a Fact-Finding Committee on Data Center Development as the county weighs how to handle large data center projects.
The county said the goal is straightforward: gather facts, hear from experts, and take public comment before commissioners decide what local rules should look like.
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What’s a data center — and why are people talking about them?
Data centers are generally defined as large buildings filled with servers and computers that store and process information — the behind-the-scenes infrastructure that powers apps, websites, cloud storage, banking, health records and more.
Nassau County says interest in potential data center development has grown, and so have questions from residents about possible impacts.
The committee’s job: research and public input
The committee is scheduled to run a series of publicly noticed workshops where experts present information and residents can weigh in.
Topics the county expects to cover include:
- Environmental and conservation impacts
- Water supply and water use
- Power demand and electric generation
- Land use and community planning
- Roads and other infrastructure capacity
- Economic impacts and local tax questions
- How state law affects what the county can regulate
The county says the committee is not a decision-making board.
Instead, the expected outcome is a memo or report summarizing expert testimony, public comment and policy options for the commissioners.
After the committee’s report is submitted and the committee sunsets, the BOCC could choose to take more steps — including more workshops, more research, or directing staff to draft proposed rules.
A temporary moratorium is on the table
The committee is happening at the same time the county considers a temporary pause on data center-related applications.
Nassau County could place a moratorium for up to 12 months on accepting, reviewing or approving applications tied to data center facilities — including rezoning and site plan requests.
The county says the moratorium would give officials time to study impacts and decide whether changes are needed to the comprehensive plan, land development code and/or county ordinances.
The ordinance passed its first public hearing May 11, 2026.
A second and final public hearing is scheduled for June 8 at 5 p.m.
What Florida law says
Nassau County points to Florida Senate Bill 484 (Chapter 2026-65), approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis on May 7, and set to take effect July 1.
The county said the law confirms local governments can adopt reasonable regulations to reduce negative impacts — but they can’t ban data centers outright.
The county says the bill also spells out rules for how big power users like data centers are billed for electricity, and it creates a separate water-permit process that could require some reclaimed water use.
Fact-finding workshop schedule (tentative)
Nassau County posted the following tentative schedule:
- Monday, June 1, 2026 — 5 p.m. — BOCC Commission Chambers, Yulee
- Tuesday, June 2, 2026 — 5 p.m. — West Nassau High School Cafetorium, Callahan
- Monday, June 8, 2026 — 9 a.m. — BOCC Commission Chambers, Yulee
- Tuesday, June 9, 2026 — 5 p.m. — West Nassau High School Cafetorium, Callahan
- Thursday, June 18, 2026 — 9 a.m. — BOCC Commission Chambers, Yulee
- Monday, June 29, 2026 — 5 p.m. — BOCC Commission Chambers, Yulee
- Tuesday, June 30, 2026 — 5 p.m. — BOCC Commission Chambers, Yulee
How to share your comments
The county says people can comment in person during the workshops.
Residents can also submit evidence, testimony or comments through a digital submission portal linked on Nassau County’s website.