NewsLine staff
Nassau County commissioners unanimously approved a temporary moratorium on data center-related development Monday, acting within the first 40 minutes of their regular Board of County Commissioners meeting.
The moratorium temporarily halts applications for such developments for 12 months, giving county officials time to review and potentially tighten the county’s land development code. It does not constitute a complete ban on data centers. During the pause, commissioners may review, study, hold public hearings and prepare amendments to the land development code if deemed necessary.
The action comes nine months after Miami-based NextNRG (NASDAQ: NXXT) announced plans in September 2025 to bring a solar farm to 1,600 acres of unidentified land in Nassau County, with potential data center and hyperscale development on a portion of the property. The announcement drew significant public backlash. NextNRG CEO Michael Farkas has since said the company’s primary focus is the solar project, describing data center development as a potential alternative use to “monetize” the land.
That backlash has driven dozens of Nassau residents to commissioner hearings and workshops, filling the chambers Monday night along with an overflow room.
“We believe this moment calls for caution, transparency and careful planning,” said Joe Watson, a science outreach specialist with nonprofit St. Mary’s Riverkeeper, during public comment May 11. The organization serves as an environmental watchdog for the river forming the border between Florida and Georgia.
“This pause is not anti-growth, it is responsible planning,” Watson added. “Nassau County deserves the time to fully evaluate these impacts before approving large-scale facilities that will permanently shape our community.”
The county’s moratorium was approved roughly a month before a Florida law imposing regulations on data centers takes effect. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed SB 484 earlier this year. The measure reinforces the ability of local governments to refuse data center developments in their jurisdictions. It also allows city and county governments to enter into non-disclosure agreements with tech companies for up to 12 months, shielding data center proposals from public view during that period.
Nassau Board of County Commissioners Chair Alyson McCullough has confirmed the county had not received any applications for data center developments and had not entered into any NDAs.
