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Residents urge moratorium as commissioners hear water, energy and community-impact concerns about data centers
Summary
Multiple residents and advocates urged the board to pause data-center approvals and study water, energy, wetlands and community impacts; commenters cited high water use, strain on the electric grid, and threats to Putnam's outdoor recreation character.
Several residents and advocates urged the Putnam County commission to pause or study data-center proposals before approvals proceed, pressing concerns about water consumption, electricity demand and long-term impacts to the county's outdoor and recreation character.
Jessica Finch (speaker 25) of the St. Johns Riverkeeper told the board that data centers can place "significant burden on water resources, energy and local ecosystems," and urged a moratorium to allow the community and county agencies to evaluate consumptive-use, discharge and habitat impacts. Michael Woodward (speaker 26) argued a one‑year moratorium is a prudent protective step while the county develops regulations and noted recent state legislation that affects local authority.
Ethan Bradley (speaker 27) and other residents cited grid-capacity risks, increasing rate pressure and the need for consumptive-use permits even for closed-loop cooling systems because of backup water needs. Amani Klein (speaker 13) and others framed the issue as preserving Putnam County's outdoor character and tourism-driven economy. The board acknowledged the public concerns and adopted a transparency policy to track inquiries while staff pursues legal analysis and potential code revisions.
