Palm Beach County Data Center Rules: Consultant Debate Explained

Who Should Write Palm Beach County's Data Center Rules?

Palm Beach County has a one-year pause on new large data centers, and the clock is ticking to write permanent rules before it ends in September 2027. The question now is who should help write them. On Oct. 22, 2026, county staff recommended hiring the consulting firm VHB for about $225,000. After a debate over cost and the firm's ties to data center clients, commissioners narrowly voted to have staff bring back proposals from other consultants instead. Here's what's at stake and what each side has said.

The data center rules debate at a glance

The deadline: The county's moratorium on large data centers ends in September 2027; without new rules, applications would fall under existing regulations
Staff's pick: VHB, a planning, engineering and environmental firm, for $199,900 plus up to $25,000 in extra services ($224,900 total)
Other offers: Six proposals ranging from about $200,000 to $2 million
The work: Review existing rules for gaps, research data center impacts, draft a regulatory framework, and hold up to eight stakeholder meetings, two public outreach events and three check-ins with commissioners
The vote: Commissioners first approved VHB, then narrowly passed a reconsideration to seek more consultant proposals

How we got here

The county approved the moratorium after a long fight over Project Tango, a proposed AI data center near 20-Mile Bend west of Wellington, concluding that its code wasn't equipped to regulate today's much larger facilities. Commissioners first considered a task force of residents and experts but dropped the idea in September, after officials worried it couldn't finish its recommendations before the moratorium ends, the Town-Crier reported. Staff suggested hiring a consultant instead. The moratorium doesn't apply to Project Tango's existing approvals; see the latest on that site.

The case for hiring a consultant

Expertise staff don't have. "From a staff perspective, we are asking for this assistance because we are limited in our capacity to do the work," said Whitney Carroll, executive director of the county's Planning, Zoning & Building Department. "We need the technical expertise."
A qualified, lower-cost bid. Carroll called VHB "a highly qualified planning, engineering and environmental firm" with an understanding of large data centers. Its proposal was one of the lowest of the six received.
Protecting residents takes information. "I understand the hesitation about spending taxpayer dollars," Commissioner Joel Flores said. "At the end of the day, we're trying to protect our people, and the only way we can do that is with information."
Time is short. Supporters noted the rules need to be in place before the moratorium expires.

The case for caution

Possible conflicts. Residents who spoke at the meeting questioned using a firm that works for data center developers. VHB's website says it helps clients build data centers and secure approvals, and Carroll confirmed the firm has private data center clients.
Need more information. "I haven't heard one positive opinion about this particular company, as opposed to others," Commissioner Maria Sachs said. "I cannot professionally agree to a particular company, and to these amounts of money, without having a little more in front of me."
Taxpayer cost. Some residents questioned spending public money on a consultant at all, and others on the commission argued the county should return to a community task force instead.

What happens next

Staff will bring back proposals from other consultants for commissioners to consider. The moratorium can be extended under specific circumstances, but if permanent rules aren't adopted by September 2027, new applications would be judged under the county's existing code. For more on development west of Wellington, see the new Artistry Lakes agreement.

What do you think?

Should Palm Beach County hire an outside expert to write its data center rules, even one with industry clients, or rely on a community task force? What should those rules protect most: neighbors, schools, water or the power grid?

Frequently asked questions

When does Palm Beach County's data center moratorium end?

In September 2027. If permanent rules aren't adopted by then, new applications would be judged under the county's existing code. The moratorium can be extended under specific circumstances.

Which consultant did county staff recommend?

VHB, a planning, engineering and environmental firm, for $199,900 plus up to $25,000 in additional services, or $224,900 total. It was one of the lowest of six offers, which ranged from about $200,000 to $2 million.

Why didn't commissioners hire VHB?

After initially approving the firm, commissioners narrowly passed a reconsideration on Oct. 22, 2026 and asked staff to bring back proposals from other consultants, after concerns about cost, the firm's private data center clients and a lack of information.

Does the moratorium apply to Project Tango?

No. The moratorium exempts projects with existing approvals, including Project Tango's 2016 approvals near 20-Mile Bend.