Sarasota County commissioners, by a 5-0 vote, approved a one-year moratorium on the acceptance or review of data center applications.
Commissioners passed the 12-month ban at their Wednesday meeting. The pause will enable county staff time to evaluate how these developments — massive structures designed to provide power to meet the AI-fueled increase in energy demand — fit into the jurisdiction’s zoning code. The discussion and vote happened even though the county has yet to receive any official data center applications.
“There’s a difference to me between saying whether you’re open for business or you’re not open for business,” Commissioner Teresa Mast said. “Saying that you’re not accepting applications, I think — that’s a very clear direction.”…