Stonebridge hyperscale AI data center campus (Fort Meade)
Stonebridge plans a 4.4 million square foot AI data center campus on about 1,300 acres in Fort Meade. It would need about 1.2 gigawatts of power. The city approved it 5-0 in April 2026, but state officials question the water plan and residents have sued.
Where things stand: City approved rezoning and a tax break in 2025 and a 20-year development agreement in April 2026. Residents sued; state water permits still needed.
🕒 Latest update (June 2026): Nearby residents sued the city in Polk County, saying owners got no proper notice and the project breaks the city's comprehensive plan.
What we know
- 📍 WhereFormer phosphate mine land west of U.S. 98 in northwest Fort Meade (main parcel 25-31-16-000000-012040), Fort Meade, Polk County
- 🏢 CompanyStonebridge
- 👤 Built forunknown (developer says the tenant or buyer will likely not be known until construction)
- 🌳 Size1,300 acres
- ⚡ Power it needs1,200 megawatts (about as much as 960,000 homes)
- 🔌 Where the power comes fromNeeds about 1.2 gigawatts of power, plus 100% backup generators. Utility not named in the sources.
- 💧 WaterCity of Fort Meade water from the Upper Floridan Aquifer · 50,000 gallons a day
- ❄️ Coolingclosed-loop cooling, no discharge (per development agreement)
- 💵 Cost$2.6 billion
- 💸 Tax breaksPolk County approved about $140 million in tax breaks over 10 years. The city also gave a tax break with the 2025 rezoning. Stonebridge pays $10 million up front, which the state says is an advance on future property taxes.
- 👷 Jobs promised500
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- Who will use or buy the data center? 🙋 I'll find out
- Which utility will supply 1.2 gigawatts, and who pays for new power lines and plants? 🙋 I'll find out
- Will the Southwest Florida Water Management District approve a water permit for the project? 🙋 I'll find out
- How has the court ruled on the residents' lawsuit? 🙋 I'll find out
- How large is the city tax break in dollars? 🙋 I'll find out
- Which state and federal permits (water district, wildlife agency, county) has the project received? 🙋 I'll find out
What happened so far
- 2025Fort Meade approved a zoning change and a tax break for Stonebridge.
- March 2026City commission delayed its vote on the development agreement after residents protested.
- April 2026The state Commerce Secretary sent a letter calling the water estimate 'woefully underestimated'. The water district warned the city cannot use its current permit for the project.
- April 7, 2026Planning commission voted unanimously to recommend the 20-year development agreement.
- April 14, 2026City commissioners voted unanimously (5-0) to approve the 20-year development agreement.
- June 2026Nearby residents sued the city in Polk County, saying owners got no proper notice and the project breaks the city's comprehensive plan.
Local votes and rules
🗳️ Election
A residents' group turned in petitions to recall the mayor, vice mayor and one commissioner, mainly over the data center vote. Signatures must be checked, and more signatures are needed before a recall election can be set.
⚖️ Court case
Nearby residents sued the city over its approval of the data center. They say owners did not get proper notice of hearings and that the project breaks the city's comprehensive plan. They want a court review of the decision.
✅ Approved
City commissioners voted unanimously to approve a 20-year development agreement for the Stonebridge hyperscale data center campus. Residents had asked for a pause instead.
Drag the slider to compare the land before and now.
Where this comes from
- Fort Meade is one step closer to building Florida's first hyperscale AI data center · WUSF/WLRN · April 8, 2026
- Lakeland watching Fort Meade data center as water concerns grow · LkldNow · April 22, 2026
- Fort Meade residents sue city over approval of industrial data center · WFTS Tampa Bay 28 · June 2026
- Fort Meade delays voting on a massive AI data center after residents protested it · WUSF · March 12, 2026
- Fort Meade moves forward with controversial $2.6B data center project despite community opposition · FOX 13 Tampa Bay · April 14, 2026
- Florida statewide parcels: 9 parcels owned by Florida Ecopark LLC and Polk Industrial Park LLC, about 1,300 acres (largest: 253116000000012040, about 494 acres) · Florida Department of Revenue / FDACS · Oct 8, 2026
- Stonebridge: Fort Meade Campus (land owned by Florida Eco Park, LLC and Polk Industrial Park, LLC) · Baxtel · Oct 8, 2026
- USGS aerial imagery of the site · U.S. Geological Survey · Oct 8, 2026
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