VIERA, Fla. – More and more, AI might be taking over the workload in our world, but Brevard County might not be willing to give a major incentive for building an AI data center.
No such data center is planned right now, but if one’s built at some point, county commissioners Tuesday night will weigh whether to deny property tax breaks.
There are other parts of the country trying to ban data centers. Brevard’s not saying that, but some still worry about the massive amounts of energy the centers use between electricity and water, and how that affects their utility bills.
“A lot of people, candidly, don’t want it in their backyard, and we’re all worried about the potential energy costs,” Rep. Mike Haridopolos (R-Brevard County) told your Viera Community Correspondent James Sparvero.
James asked others at the government center ahead of the commission meeting for their opinions.
One woman told him her husband works in AI, and she’d worry that by not offering tax breaks, an opportunity for the county to be a leader in the sector, like in spaceflight, could be blown.
“We have all these launches going off in our backyard. Brevard County, in general, it seems like this is the place to make progress,” Elizabeth Buescher said.
A man, who didn’t wish to share his name, agreed that data centers are necessary.
“You need to have the debate of what’s benefits and what’s the rewards,” he said. “Of course, we want them in places where there’s not a negative impact on environment matters.”
One of the world’s largest AI data centers is planned an hour south of Brevard in St. Lucie County.
Stick with News 6 and ClickOrlando.com for updates on what the commission decides.