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Nassau County Announces Approval of Data Center Development Fact-Finding Committee and Public Meeting Schedule

​The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has approved the establishment of the Nassau County Fact-Finding Committee on Data Center Development as part of the County’s ongoing evaluation of data center development and related public policy considerations.

The BOCC is considering a temporary (up to twelve months) moratorium ordinance, to allow County Commissioners and staff sufficient time to evaluate the operational characteristics, infrastructure demands, environmental considerations, and community impacts associated with data center development.  The BOCC held the first public hearing regarding the proposed moratorium on May 11, 2026, with a second and final hearing scheduled on June 8, 2026.

The Committee, comprised of County staff, was established on May 20, 2026, in conjunction with the County’s consideration of a temporary moratorium.  The Committee will consolidate research and testimony received to assist in the evaluation of issues related to environmental impacts, water consumption, electrical demand and generation, land use compatibility, infrastructure capacity, economic and fiscal impacts, legal parameters of Florida State Law, and other issues associated with data center development.

The Committee will conduct a series of public meetings over the summer that will allow citizens the opportunity to provide comments related to data center development. In addition, the public meetings series will be used as a platform to host a speaker series where subject matter experts will provide relevant information and perspective on data centers.

The Committee is not a decision-making board and will not make any policy determinations.  The Committee’s work will culminate in a report or memorandum presented to the BOCC for future discussion where reasonable, balanced, and legally defensible public policy related to data center development will be considered. To ensure effective and efficient public meetings and Committee work, the Northeast Florida Regional Council (NEFRC) will moderate Committee meetings. 

The Committee consists of County staff members with expertise in planning, engineering, environmental sciences, land development, finance, and economic development. Members are as follows:

  • Taco Pope, AICP, ICMA-CM, County Manager
  • Marshall Eyerman, ICMA-CM, Assistant County Manager
  • Robert Companion, P.E., Deputy County Manager/County Engineer
  • Taylor Clem, Ph.D., Conservation Manager
  • Kathy Freyman, Economic Resources Manager.

Tentative Public Meeting Schedule* **
(All meetings are subject to change.)

  • Monday, June 1, 2026 – 5:00 p.m.
    BOCC Commission Chambers, Yulee
  • Tuesday, June 2, 2026 – 5:00 p.m.
    West Nassau High School Cafetorium, Callahan
  • Monday, June 8, 2026 – 9:00 a.m.
    BOCC Commission Chambers, Yulee
  • Tuesday, June 9, 2026 – 5:00 p.m.
    West Nassau High School Cafetorium, Callahan
  • Thursday, June 18, 2026 – 9:00 a.m.
    BOCC Commission Chambers, Yulee
  • Monday, June 29, 2026 – 5:00 p.m.
    BOCC Commission Chambers, Yulee
  • Tuesday, June 30, 2026 – 5:00 p.m.
    BOCC Commission Chambers, Yulee.

*There will be a “public comment” period at each meeting where citizens can provide comments on data center development.
**A video recording of each Committee meeting will be available for view at: https://nassaufl.co/DataCenters-FactFinding

Speaker Series, Scheduled Presenters (Subject to Change):

Monday, June 1, 2026

  • Evan J. Rosenthal, Nabors Giblin & Nickerson P.A.
  • Dr. Tom Hoctor, Director for the Center of Landscape Conservation Planning, University of Florida 
  • Margaret Kirkland, Conserve Nassau
  • Chadd Charland, Florida Native Plant Society.

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

  • Kim Dinkins, Policy and Planning Director, 1000 Friends of Florida
  • Emily Floore, Executive Director, St. Marys Riverkeeper
  • Jennifer Bryla, American Planning Association & Northeast Florida Regional Council.

Monday, June 8, 2026

  • Jeff Hendry, Executive Director, North Florida Economic Development Partnership
  • Sherri Mitchell, Executive Director, Nassau County Economic Development Board
  • Bruce Jackson, First Vice President, CBRE Group Inc.
  • Colleen Gillis, CEO, Curata Partners
  • Ralph Forbes, Vice President/Regional Director, Thomas & Hutton.

Thursday, June 18, 2026

  • Clay Coarsey, Director, Division of Water Supply Planning and Assessment, St. Johns River Water Management District.

More information regarding the temporary moratorium, the Committee, meeting materials, and public participation opportunities is available https://nassaufl.co/DataCenters-FactFinding. 

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