A packed Escambia County Commission chamber turned emotional Wednesday as residents urged county leaders to reject the possibility of large-scale data centers coming to Escambia County.
The public forum stretched for two hours with a series of passionate comments from residents who raised concerns about environmental impacts, public health, utility demand, and what they described as a pattern of industrial development disproportionately affecting lower-income communities.
Harlan Wollner, attending his first county meeting, introduced himself as an Army veteran who served two tours in Iraq…