Pensacola Data Center Ordinance Still in Development — Won't Be Ready for July

Pensacola, FL (NewsRadio 92.3) -- Pensacola's push to formally ban data centers is moving forward — but residents expecting action at the July city council meeting will have to wait a little longer.

Council Executive staff confirmed Thursday night that the data center ordinance Councilman Charles Bare has been working on will not be ready for July. The process requires coordination between the city attorney and development services, and staff said they want to make sure they go down the correct path before bringing anything to a vote.

The announcement came as another round of public speakers packed city hall Thursday demanding a ban on data centers and an end to the Flock camera contract. Many had come directly from Wednesday night's Escambia County Commission meeting, where commissioners unanimously directed the county attorney to draft a regulatory data center ban ordinance with a public hearing July 23rd and a board vote expected August 6th.

Residents urged the city to move on the same timeline as the county. Public speakers thanked Bare by name for his work on the ordinance and called on the full council to follow the lead of Walton County, which has already passed a data center ban, and Jackson County, which has done the same.

A Change.org petition opposing data centers in Escambia County had collected nearly 5,500 signatures by Wednesday night. The petition was started May 28th — the same day the issue first surfaced publicly — and has grown steadily since.

Mayor Reeves has previously stated he will not advocate for data centers in Pensacola. The city's ordinance has no confirmed timeline but remains in active development.