We, the undersigned residents and stakeholders of Polk County and surrounding communities, respectfully request that the City of Fort Meade and Polk County Commissioners immediately pause further approvals of the proposed hyperscale data center development until all environmental, fiscal, and infrastructure concerns are fully reviewed in a transparent, public process.

 

While we support responsible economic development, projects of this magnitude must be evaluated for long-term sustainability, community impact, and fairness to taxpayers before final approval.

 1. Water Resource and Environmental Impact

 

Florida is currently experiencing ongoing water stress, including regional drought conditions, aquifer vulnerability concerns, and increasing pressure on municipal water systems.

Large-scale data centers are known to require significant water usage for cooling operations and temperature regulation.

We request:

A full, independent environmental impact assessment

Public disclosure of projected daily and annual water consumption
Analysis of impacts on local aquifers, municipal systems, and drought resilience
Mandatory water-use reduction or mitigation strategies if the project proceeds

 

No development of this scale should proceed without full public understanding of its water demands in a water-sensitive region.

 

2. Power Grid Capacity and Infrastructure Burden

 

Hyperscale data centers are among the most electricity-intensive facilities in modern infrastructure. Without careful planning, they can place significant strain on local energy systems.

 

We request:

Full disclosure of projected peak and continuous power demand

Independent analysis of grid capacity and reliability impacts
Assurance that all required infrastructure upgrades are fully funded by the developer
Confirmation that residential utility rates will not be negatively impacted

 

 3. Tax Incentive Agreement and Fiscal Responsibility

 

We formally request a full revision and public re-evaluation of the proposed tax incentive agreement, including the previously approved 90% property tax exemption for a 10-year period.

 

Concerns include:

The scale of public tax revenue foregone under the current agreement

Whether community benefits are proportional to environmental and infrastructure impacts
The limited number of permanent local jobs relative to project scale
Long-term fiscal sustainability for the county and school systems

We request:

A revised, more balanced tax agreement that ensures fair return to the public

Full transparency comparing projected revenue with and without incentives
Public justification for the necessity of such a large exemption

 

 4. Climate Conditions, Heat, and Resource Efficiency

 

Florida’s hot and highly humid climate significantly affects the efficiency and resource demands of large-scale data center operations.

 

While technically feasible, these conditions increase cooling requirements and resource consumption.

Impacts include:

 

Increased electricity usage for cooling systems
Higher water demand for thermal regulation
Reduced cooling efficiency due to humidity
Greater strain on local infrastructure systems

We request:

A climate-specific environmental efficiency analysis

Full disclosure of increased resource demands due to Florida conditions
Evaluation of alternative locations with lower environmental impact
Consideration of long-term sustainability impacts on regional resources

 

5. Land Use, Site Appropriateness, and Environmental Suitability

We request a formal review of whether the proposed site is the most appropriate location for a hyperscale industrial facility of this scale.

 

This review should include:

 

Evaluation of alternative industrial or already-developed sites
Impacts on surrounding ecosystems and wildlife
Alignment with regional land-use and growth planning
Long-term environmental compatibility of the site

If a more suitable site exists, relocation should be seriously considered.

 

 6. Transparency, Accountability, and Public Oversght. 

We request:

Full disclosure of all project stakeholders, developers, and end users

Identification of the eventual operators of the facility
Public access to all zoning, permitting, and infrastructure agreements
Regular public hearings with meaningful community input
Independent oversight of environmental and financial commitment

 

We are not opposed to responsible development or technological progress. However, development of this scale must be transparent, proportionate, and aligned with the long-term sustainability and well-being of the community.

 

At minimum, this project should not proceed without:

Full environmental review

Full fiscal transparency
Revised tax incentives ensuring fair public return
Clear demonstration that local infrastructure can support long-term impacts

 

Until these conditions are met, we respectfully request that all final approvals be paused.