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Escambia Commission Bans Data Centers; Barry Says No Projects Ever Under Consideration In District 5
July 24, 2026
The county commission voted unanimously Thursday night to ban data centers in the unincorporated areas of Escambia County.
The ban is essentially two parts:
- An approved resolution now officially on the books memorializing its position that data center facilities are not permitted under the County’s Land Development Code and are not an appropriate form of development within the unincorporated area of Escambia County.
- A forthcoming ordinance, to be considered at a public hearing on August 6.
“Data center facilities are not identified as a permitted or conditional principal use in any zoning district,” the resolution states. “The Board further memorializes its position that data center facilities are not an appropriate form of development within the unincorporated area of Escambia County.”
The ordinance to be considered by the board on August 6 is expected to strengthen the data center ban, and clear up an ambiguity. Commissioners are expected to tweak ordinance language to ban data centers smaller than 50 megawatts, which is the state’s threshold for a “large-scale data center.”
“Your code does not anticipate any size as a permitted use,” County Attorney Alison Rogers told the board.
Rogers said server rooms or small data centers would be allowed “where they are an accessory use like at a Navy federal, or UWF, or a hospital. Those are already going to be allowed because they are accessory uses. The county has a server room.”
Commissioners were unified in their position against data centers in Escambia County.
“We all believe this. None of us want data centers. It’s not happening,” Commissioner Steve Stroberger said while holding up a “No Data Center” sign.
After discussing that District 5 is the only district in the county that would potentially have enough land for a large-scale data center, with two-thirds of the land mass, District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said there has never been one under consideration in the district.
“There’s not been a single approach made, no proposal or even an off-conversation at the gas station about a project involving any type of data center in District 5,” Barry said. “I think what we are doing is prudent, but just to be clear there hasn’t been a push. I don’t want people in our community to feel like someone else in their community has been working behind their back to try to flip one of these in.”
“It hasn’t happened. It has not happened, so I don’t want people to feel like other people in their community have been trying to do something underhanded,” he added.
“They are not real jobs,” Commissioner Lumon May said. “There are construction jobs. Then there is AI, then they maintain 10 or 15 jobs.”
“It’s security people and a couple of engineers,” Barry interjected.
“To me, it should not even be a consideration because it would be an economic development project and they can’t create jobs,” May continued. “They hurt the environment.”
NorthEscambia.com image.
Comments
17 Responses to “Escambia Commission Bans Data Centers; Barry Says No Projects Ever Under Consideration In District 5”
I see the county commissioner have voted against a data center that could provide jobs int the county. Wouldn’t these jobs help provide tax revenue for the county?
I heard this on the evening news Saturday night. After this story, it reported a story about the county could be losing about $19 million in tax revenue. Where is the logic against bringing businesses in? The commissioners want businesses and people to come but yet they hinder businesses from starting in the county. Take it to the people of Escambia County and let them vote on it. Next they will be raising property taxes to pay for their bad decisions.
Susie..Barry only does what he thinks benefits him. Certainly doesn’t listen when we complain about the to fast growth in certain areas..data centers are coming stop listening to the media an do your own research…they can be a good thing. Lots of wrong information being spewed.
Al Data Centers are wrecking communities all across our nation right now. Wells are running dry or spitting out sludge, people’s land is being taken in Georgia as imminent domain. The anti-corrosive chemicals being added to the millions of gallons of aquifer water being used to run these AI data centers is becoming polluted water unable to ever be the same again. Cows are only giving birth the stillborn calves in properties neighboring these data centers. AI data centers are an environmental disaster and between the chemicals and noise pollution they would make our land and our communities less safe. They would take away our rights – two of which being our right to clean water, and the pursuit of happiness (no one can be happy in the proximity to the sound these AI Data Centers make).
Barry and any other commish that votes to ban them should turn in their cell phones and save the county that money, because they can rely on data centers!
This is another example of local government allowing fear and speculation to drive public policy. Blanket bans on entire industries risk sending a message that Escambia County is closed to innovation and new investment, ultimately hurting our long-term economic competitiveness. Escambia County has a track record of backward conspiracy driven decisions that have caused our area to stagnate.
I agree with Fred due to the fact ive built numerous data centers across the country. I build/install piping systems in all sorts of industrial plants including data centers and Fred is correct
Carson O’Gen: you mean everything South of McDavid right? Molino has had a 24/7 career crew for months now. McDavid and Walnut hill are the only two stations left without career guys I believe.
Mr. May couldn’t be more wrong. Data Centers not only create the dedicated jobs for those working at the center, but they attract businesses that need low latency data access, such as HealthCare, manufacturing and high tech businesses. They also serve as an attractive beacon for businesses seeking to locate in a business friendly environment. The economic impact is obvious and undeniable. The obvious location is the OLF 8 site on Nine Mile Road.
Glad they are finally talking about the north end.. while we are at it every person plays the same for fire protection in Escambia, but Century is the only place that gets day time career firefighters while everything south of Molino has 24hr protection.
retiredITGuy: then go live by one and get out of NW Florida. Enjoy your retirement.
This is a good thing. Hopefully sooner, rather than later, people will wake up to how over-hyped and unnecessary the AI boom is. I just hope when it inevitable comes crashing down the economic reverbations aren’t too severe.
Now do flock cameras.
I’m glad to have Steven Barry in our district to fight for us. Kohler and Luman are a waste of time and money. That’s all those two care about. Thanks Steven!!!
“I don’t want people in our community to feel like someone else in their community has been working behind their back to try to flip one of these in.” – Steven Barry
There’s a reason that we always jump to the conclusion that there is underhanded dealings that we as the public are not privy to going on. Maybe all the commissioners should keep that in mind and think about why your constituents don’t trust you and feel that way about the county commission.
Now Santa Rosa needs to do the same rather than a one year moratorium to make it through this election cycle where, no doubt, some of our county commissioners will open their pockets to whoever is willing to fill them.
The sheep have spoken. No evil data centers in our backyard. The statements from the various commissioners demonstrate that none of them have a clue what they are talking about. As a 41 year veteran of the IT world who has real world experience in the design, development and operation of several massive data centers around the country, this will turn out to be one of the dumbest things this county board has enacted.
This is a huge mistake. If you listen to the Chinese sponsored propaganda, you believe data centers use all the water and electricity.
Where were these concerns regarding the Navy Federal complex, which uses huge amounts of water and electricity? Of, the many many apartment complexes, which easily use the same amount of electricity and water resources?
Data centers use closed loop cooling, which doesn’t use fresh water, but recycles its coolant.
And, where is FPL, saying they can’t support one? The fact is these center construct their own electrical generating plants.
If you want China altering the content you see, then keep it up. We need our own centers, with unadulterated data for our use.