Orange County moves forward with temporary moratorium on new AI data centers
Orange County moves forward with temporary moratorium on new AI data centers
Orange County commissioners directed staff Tuesday to draft an ordinance that would temporarily halt new large-scale AI data center applications while officials study how to regulate the facilities and their potential impacts on nearby communities.
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. - Orange County commissioners directed staff Tuesday to draft an ordinance that would temporarily halt new large-scale AI data center applications while officials study how to regulate the facilities and their potential impacts on nearby communities.
The proposed moratorium would still have to go through the county's public approval process before commissioners vote on a final ordinance. Staff is expected to present a draft by Dec. 1.
Concerns over noise, water and energy use
Local perspective:
District 5 Commissioner Kelly Martinez Semrad, who proposed the moratorium in a memo in June, said the county needs more time to evaluate the short-, medium- and long-term effects of large AI data centers.
"We have concerns from short to mid to long-term impacts that we need to consider," Martinez Semrad said.
Among the concerns she cited are water consumption, increased utility costs for nearby residents and noise generated by the facilities.
Mayor Jerry Demings said a demonstration of data center noise during the meeting reinforced those concerns.
"Got all our attention with that noise. Certainly I don't want to live next to it," Demings said.
County cites regulatory uncertainty
Martinez Semrad said in a June memo to fellow commissioners that Orange County lacks a clear regulatory framework for overseeing large-scale AI data centers.
The proposed moratorium would apply only to new applications while county staff develop recommendations for future regulations.
Residents voice concerns
Several residents urged commissioners to approve the temporary pause, citing the size, noise and environmental impacts of large data centers.
One resident opposed new facilities outright, while another described some of the largest proposed developments as operating around the clock and generating continuous low-frequency noise.
Economic benefits also discussed
County staff also outlined potential benefits of AI data centers, saying they could encourage economic development and generate significant tax revenue for the county.
The discussion comes as governments across the country weigh how to regulate the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure.
Trump highlights AI expansion
Dig deeper:
The debate also comes amid national attention on AI development. President Donald Trump wrote on social media Monday that the growth of AI data centers reflects U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence and urged policymakers not to slow that expansion. During a separate public appearance, Trump said AI represents "a revolution" that is "bigger than the internet."
What are data centers?
Data centers are large facilities that support artificial intelligence, cloud computing and other digital services.
The facilities house computer servers, storage hardware and networking gear that do all the work.
As demand for data storage and digital services grows, so has demand for data centers. But the facilities can put enormous strain on power grids.
Florida counties hit pause on data centers
A number of counties in Florida, including Pasco and Hernando have already issued temporary pauses on data centers development.
Last week, the Lake County Commission approved a 90-day pause on accepting applications for large-scale data centers.
A new state law (SB 484) creates guardrails for data center development, ensuring that local governments have the authority to reject data center development and preventing costs from being passed onto consumers.
The Source: This story was written with information from a memo released by Orange County commissioner Kelly Martinez Semrad, a meeting of the Orange County Commission on Sept. 15, 2026, and previous FOX 35 reporting.