While data centers continue to spring up across the United States, plans for another massive facility in Florida have sparked outrage among locals. The proposed development in Polk County has raised concerns over electricity bills, water consumption, and the potential impact on surrounding communities, with some residents urging others to push back against the project before it moves forward.
Specifically, Texas-based Hillwood Development Company is planning to transform two vacant warehouses in Auburndale into a sprawling data center known as the Auburndale Technology Center. As reported by Florida Times Daily, the proposed facility would occupy approximately 500,000 square feet on a 75-acre site at 810 Pace Road, near Florida Polytechnic University. The project has already attracted criticism on Reddit, where locals are questioning whether the development is worth the potential strain on nearby communities.
Notably, the sheer amount of electricity required to power the facility has become a major talking point. According to Tampa Bay 28, the first phase alone would require approximately 350 megawatts of power, potentially rising to 700 megawatts once the development is fully operational. While developer Hillwood insists it will cover the necessary electricity infrastructure costs rather than passing them on to residential customers, some locals remain skeptical about the potential impact on their utility bills.
Meanwhile, concerns have also been raised about the facility’s potential impact on local water supplies. Hillwood estimates that the data center would consume approximately 4,665 gallons of water per day, although the company says its closed-loop cooling system would help keep consumption relatively low. The developer has also touted the project’s economic benefits, including hundreds of permanent and construction jobs, but whether those promises will be enough to win over skeptical locals remains to be seen.
Florida Locals Fear Higher Utility Bills and Water Problems
The proposal has certainly struck a nerve on Reddit, where users have been sounding the alarm over its potential impact on everyday Floridians. One commenter warned, “Unless you want your utility costs to go up and your water quality to go down, you’ll want to protest this.” Another was equally concerned about the facility’s enormous electricity requirements, writing, “‘will use 700 megawatts to run’… literally enough power for 350,000 homes’.. good luck to the neighbors.“
Others were less than impressed by the prospect of another data center popping up in Florida. “Nothing says data center like a shit load of cooling towers, spike in electricity bills and water bills,” one user sarcastically remarked. Another took a more nostalgic approach, lamenting, “This place used to be wild and beautiful.” Meanwhile, a fifth commenter summed up their feelings in just three words: “Just the beginning.”
Not everyone was convinced the project would even get off the ground, however. One skeptical user argued, “Most of the already promised data centers have yet to start construction and probably never will.” Clearly, there’s no shortage of opinions on the proposal, although whether those concerns will translate into meaningful opposition is another matter entirely.
