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Putnam County adopts transparency policy on data-center inquiries amid calls for moratorium
Summary
After residents raised water, energy and environmental concerns, the Putnam County commission adopted a policy requiring staff to forward any data-center inquiries in writing to the county administrator within 72 hours and publish the notices to the commissioners and website while legal staff studies a possible moratorium or code changes.
Putnam County commissioners on July 14 adopted a policy to improve transparency around any staff contact or inquiry regarding potential data-center projects and directed staff to continue exploring legal options for a moratorium or code change.
The policy requires that any written communication, inquiry or site interest involving a potential data center be emailed to County Administrator Suggs within 72 hours; the administrator's office will then forward the information to all five commissioners and post it publicly to improve awareness and avoid the perception of closed-door negotiations. Commissioner Josh Alexander proposed the measure as an initial step while the county researches formal regulatory options.
Public commenters—including Jessica Finch of the Saint Johns Riverkeeper and resident speakers—urged a moratorium and expressed concerns about water consumption, energy demand and ecosystem risks. Finch said data centers can place large burdens on water resources and cited estimates that large facilities can consume millions of gallons per day. Michael Woodward provided a legal briefing noting concerns about previous state legislation (his remarks contrasted SB 180 and SB 484) and advised careful legal review before adopting a moratorium; County Attorney said staff is reviewing options and that moratoriums have legal exposure under recent state statutes.
The board's policy passed unanimously. Commissioners asked the county attorney and staff to continue collecting facts, consider limited moratorium models targeted by size or energy draw, and return with suggested code changes or legal paths that minimize litigation risk.
What happens next: staff will forward received inquiries as required, publish those notices, and the county attorney will draft options for a moratorium or ordinance amendments with legal analysis for a future meeting.
