Key facts
- A 600MW datacenter, Project Tango, is proposed in western Palm Beach County, Florida, near the Everglades.
- Environmentalists warn the datacenter's waste heat could increase water temperatures, exacerbating toxic algae blooms in the watershed.
- The project could consume power equivalent to half a million US homes.
- Developers claim a closed-loop cooling system will minimize water usage.
- Palm Beach County commissioners denied an expansion of the datacenter, but further applications are pending.
- A moratorium against large-scale datacenters is being considered by county commissioners.
A proposed 600-megawatt hyperscale datacenter, known as Project Tango, in western Palm Beach County, Florida, is facing significant opposition from environmentalists and local residents. The 202-acre site, located near the Florida Everglades, has raised concerns about its potential environmental impact, particularly regarding toxic algae blooms.
Environmental advocates, including Reinaldo Diaz of Lake Worth Waterkeeper, warn that waste heat generated by the datacenter could increase water temperatures in the surrounding watershed. This warming, combined with existing stressors like drought, fertilizer runoff, and high temperatures, could exacerbate harmful cyanobacteria blooms, similar to those seen in Lake Okeechobee. These blooms produce toxins that can harm humans and animals and contaminate drinking water.
Christina Reichert, an attorney with Earthjustice representing local residents, highlighted that a hyperscale datacenter's impacts on water, air, and sound could exceed those permitted by the site's light industrial zoning. She noted the risk of increased heat leading to algal blooms that could compromise drinking water and Everglades restoration efforts.
Developers, through PBA Holdings, Inc., state the facility will use a closed-loop cooling system to minimize water consumption. Project manager Ernie Cox indicated this system would reduce water usage. However, critics argue that the heat still needs to be dissipated, and even a slight temperature increase could fuel algae growth in connected waterways.
Concerns also extend to the datacenter's substantial energy consumption, estimated to be equivalent to that of half a million US homes at peak capacity. This could necessitate costly upgrades to the power grid, potentially increasing electricity costs for households. Residents also voiced worries about noise, increased traffic, lower property values, and higher energy bills.
Despite these concerns, President Trump has previously downplayed opposition, urging communities to embrace such infrastructure projects. However, residents like Sue Ellen Loyzelle are calling for more regulatory safeguards. Palm Beach County commissioners recently denied an expansion of the proposed datacenter by a 5-1 vote, though further administrative applications remain. A vote on a moratorium against large-scale datacenters is also anticipated.