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Residents urge Palm Beach County to block 'Project Tango' data center, citing noise, water and safety worries
Summary
Several residents urged county commissioners to oppose Project Tango, a proposed large data center, saying the project poses water, noise, battery-fire and environmental risks to nearby neighborhoods and a wildlife refuge; the board said some members feel constrained by approvals but will hear further comment at the next meeting.
At a Palm Beach County public comment session, residents urged commissioners to oppose “Project Tango,” a proposed hyperscale data center they said threatens neighborhood health, uses excessive water, and lacks transparent technical details.
Rachel Smith, who identified herself as a local resident, told the commission Project Tango’s proposed cooling and backup systems create multiple hazards, including noise and potential lithium-battery fire risks. She said a project manager told her the facility would use a 'dry cooling' loop system and estimated water use figures that residents doubt will be sufficient for an operation in South Florida’s high heat and humidity.
Why it matters: Residents said the data center’s scale and the secrecy around technical specifications could affect groundwater, nearby schools and a wildlife refuge. Rachel Smith urged commissioners to vote against the project at the commission meeting scheduled for April 23 and to demand public, verifiable engineering data during permitting and outreach.
Technical and community concerns: Speakers questioned whether backup systems will rely on batteries that pose fire risks, whether there will be backup generators drawing from local distribution, and how the county will enforce water-disposal and noise-mitigation requirements. Linda Smith, representing a local group, asked the county to require independent acoustic studies, stronger lighting and wildlife protections, and a clear plan for disposal of chemically contaminated closed-loop water.
Commission response and next steps: Commissioners acknowledged strong community opposition. One commissioner said they felt limited in authority over certain approvals, and the mayor said the board will continue to hear residents’ concerns and that Project Tango details should be clarified in upcoming hearings. No vote or formal zoning decision was taken at the meeting.
The matter is expected to return to the commission agenda for further discussion ahead of the public meeting residents referenced.
