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Fort Meade Today
By the People, for the People
Florida Commerce Secretary Criticizes Fort Meade Data Center Plan
State official objects to 1.2 GW facility approved by city commission
Apr. 17, 2026 at 9:17am
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A glowing, high-tech data center tower stands as a symbol of the complex energy and environmental challenges facing Florida's tech growth.Fort Meade TodayFlorida Secretary of Commerce Alex Kelly has sent a letter to Fort Meade Mayor Jaret Landon Williams criticizing the city's recent approval of a deal to build a 1.2 GW hyperscale data center. The state official argues the project raises concerns about energy usage and environmental impact in the region.
Why it matters
Data centers are a growing industry in Florida, but their massive power demands and potential strain on local infrastructure have sparked debates over the appropriate balance between economic development and sustainability. This clash between state and local officials highlights the complex trade-offs involved in attracting large-scale tech projects.
The details
In his letter, Secretary Kelly expressed concerns about the data center's energy consumption and questioned whether Fort Meade has the necessary power grid capacity and water resources to support a facility of that size. The state official also raised worries about the project's environmental toll, including increased greenhouse gas emissions and strain on the local ecosystem.
- On April 16, 2026, the Fort Meade City Commission approved the deal for the 1.2 GW data center.
- A day later, on April 17, 2026, Secretary Kelly sent his critical letter to Mayor Williams.
The players
Alex Kelly
The Florida Secretary of Commerce, who oversees the state's economic development efforts.
Jaret Landon Williams
The mayor of Fort Meade, Florida, who leads the city government that approved the data center project.
Fort Meade City Commission
The local governing body in Fort Meade that voted to approve the 1.2 GW data center deal.
What they’re saying
“We must carefully consider the long-term impacts of such a massive data center on our state's energy grid and natural resources.”
— Alex Kelly, Florida Secretary of Commerce
What’s next
The Fort Meade City Commission will likely respond to Secretary Kelly's concerns in the coming weeks as they finalize the data center project details.
The takeaway
This clash between state and local officials underscores the complex balancing act required to attract large-scale tech projects while also addressing environmental sustainability and infrastructure capacity issues.
