The formation of a Data Center Fact-Finding Committee has been approved in Nassau County. In conjunction with the implementation of a moratorium, up for final consideration June 8, the committee will begin to gather information on data center development and related policy considerations through several public workshops.
On Friday, Nassau County announced several workshops along with several scheduled presenters that have been set in June.
The county said the workshops are subject to change.
INITIAL FACT-FINDING COMMITTEE WORKSHOPS
• Monday, June 1, 2026, at 5 p.m. - BOCC Commission Chambers, Yulee
• Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 5 p.m. - West Nassau High School Cafetorium, in Callahan
• Monday, June 8, at 9 a.m. - BOCC Commission Chambers, Yulee
• Tuesday, June 9, at 5 p.m. - West Nassau High School Cafetorium, in Callahan
• Thursday, June 18, at 9 a.m. - BOCC Commission Chambers, Yulee
• Monday, June 29, at 5 p.m. - BOCC Commission Chambers, Yulee
• Tuesday, June 30, at 5 p.m. - BOCC Commission Chambers, Yulee.
The workshops will be open to the public and will allow opportunity for attendees to provide comments.
The county also has set up an official webpage to provide information and collect public input.
The Board of County Commissioners approved the establishment of the committee at its May 20 meeting.
The county still is in the process of establishing a moratorium on the acceptance, review and approval of applications for data center facilities.
The final public hearing on the moratorium is set for June 8.
The county said the “committee’s purpose is to consolidate research and testimony received to assist in the evaluation of issues related to environmental impacts, water consumption, electrical demand and generation, land use compatibility, infrastructure capacity, economic and fiscal impacts, legal parameters of Florida State Law, and other issues associated with data center development.”
The committee will be made up of county staff members with “expertise in planning, engineering, environmental sciences, land development, finance and economic development.”
The county named five staff members that will be considered for the committee along with alternatives and those who will support the committee. County Manager Taco Pope; Assistant County Manager Marshall Eyerman; Deputy County Manager Robert Companion; Conservation Manager Taylor Clem and Economic Resources Manager Kathy Freeman were the primary staff to be considered for the committee.
Alternatives named included Planning Director Elizabeth Backe; Office of Management and Budget Director Chris Lacambra; Development Services Director Caleb Hurst; and Director of Strategic Advancement Brandy Carvalho.
The committee will be supported by County Attorney Denise May; Nassau County Operations Manager Amy Bell; and The Northeast Florida Regional Council.
For more information visit https://www.nassauclerk.com/189/WatchBoard-Meetings to view previous or future public hearings.
Nassau County also announced the scheduled speakers that will be at a few of the workshops (subject to change):
Monday, June 1, 2026
o Evan J. Rosenthal, Nabors Giblin & Nickerson P.A.
o Dr. Tom Hoctor, Director for the Center of Landscape Conservation Planning, University of Florida
o Margaret Kirkland, Conserve Nassau
o Chadd Charland, Florida Native Plant Society.
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
o Kim Dinkins, Policy and Planning Director, 1000 Friends of Florida
o Emily Floore, Executive Director, St. Marys Riverkeeper
o Jennifer Bryla, American Planning Association & Northeast Florida Regional Council.
Monday, June 8, 2026
o Jeff Hendry, Executive Director, North Florida Economic Development Partnership
o Sherri Mitchell, Executive Director, Nassau County Economic Development Board
o Bruce Jackson, First Vice President, CBRE Group Inc.
o Colleen Gillis, CEO, Curata Partners
o Ralph Forbes, Vice President/Regional Director, Thomas & Hutton.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
o Clay Coarsey, Director, Division of Water Supply Planning and Assessment, St. Johns River Water Management
District.