Nassau County Residents Are Asking Questions About Rumors of Data Centers

The growing national debate over AI and data centers has officially reached Nassau County.

Over the past several weeks, local news outlets throughout Northeast Florida have reported on growing concern among Nassau County residents regarding the possibility of large-scale “hyperscale” data center projects being developed in the area.

At the center of the discussion is a proposed project tied to Miami-based NextNRG, which announced plans tied to roughly 1,600 acres near the Jacksonville airport area, including a proposed 200-megawatt microgrid and land described as “ideal” for future hyperscale data center development.

The issue quickly caught the attention of Nassau County residents concerned about:

  • water consumption,
  • electric grid demand,
  • land use,
  • environmental impacts,
  • industrial noise,
  • and the long-term effect on quality of life.

In response, Nassau County Commissioners recently advanced a proposed one-year moratorium on new data center development applications while the county studies potential impacts and develops future regulations. County officials stressed the move is intended as a pause for planning — not an outright ban.

The discussion happening in Nassau County mirrors debates now occurring across the country as communities wrestle with the realities of the Digital Age.

Artificial Intelligence may seem invisible online, but behind every AI search, cloud service, streaming platform, and chatbot are enormous industrial-style facilities requiring massive amounts of electricity, cooling systems, fiber infrastructure, and in many cases, large volumes of water.

For residents trying to understand why these projects are suddenly appearing, Eye on Jacksonville recently published an explainer titled:

Data Centers for Dummies: Welcome to the New Industrial Age

The article breaks down in plain English:

  • what data centers actually are,
  • why AI is driving explosive growth,
  • why residents are concerned about water and electric usage,
  • how noise and land use become local issues,
  • and why Florida communities are increasingly being pulled into the national AI infrastructure race.

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Reconsideration of the Westside Regional Park Investment

Petition to the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners

Subject: Reconsideration of the Westside Regional Park Investment

 

Dear Commissioners,

 

We, the undersigned residents of Nassau County, respectfully submit this petition regarding the allocation of public funds toward the development of the Westside Regional Park.

 

It would surprise many to learn that 82.7% of all Nassau County Ad Valorem taxes are paid by properties located east of Interstate 95. Yet, the County has programmed $22.86 million into the Westside Regional Park, located 20 miles west of Interstate 95 — a location largely inaccessible to the majority of residents who are funding it.

 

This project spans over 100 acres with an estimated construction cost of $21 million. Although the land was purchased in 2007 for $1.09 million, it has taken 17 years to bring forward a plan, raising additional concerns about the project's long-term viability and true priority.

 

Over 67% of Nassau County’s population lives in the easternmost zip codes of 32034 and 32097, areas where residents would have to travel up to 35 miles to access the park. Research shows that individuals living more than 10 miles away from a park are unlikely to use it regularly, if at all.

 

In short: the taxpayers bearing the largest burden for this project are the least likely to benefit from it.

 

Given these facts, we have serious concerns about whether the Westside Regional Park is the most responsible and equitable use of taxpayer dollars.

We respectfully request the following:

  • A full public reassessment of the Westside Regional Park's location, accessibility, and return on investment.
  • Consideration of alternative investments in parks and recreation facilities that are more geographically equitable and accessible to the majority of Nassau County taxpayers.
  • Greater transparency and opportunity for public input regarding major capital projects moving forward.

We urge you to pause further expenditures on this project until a thorough and transparent review is conducted.

 

It is time for Nassau County to ensure that public funds are invested fairly, wisely, and in ways that serve the entire community — not just a select portion of it.

 

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

 

We look forward to your leadership and stewardship of our county’s future.

{Your name will be here}

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  1. Voluntary Participation
    Your signature is submitted voluntarily and represents your personal support for the petition.
  2. Eligibility
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We will not sell, trade, or misuse your data. Your information may be shared with government officials only as part of the official submission of this petition.

  1. Non-Affiliation
    This petition is organized by Nassau FL DOGE, an informal group of concerned citizens. We are not affiliated with any political party, government agency, or official campaign.
  2. Non-Binding Nature
    This petition is intended to express collective community interest and support. Signing does not create any legal obligation for the signer or the governing body, nor does it imply formal membership or endorsement of any group or agenda.
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