Applying Trump's Message on Data Centers Locally – Top 3 Takeaways – September 2nd, 2026
Takeaway #1: Saying what needs to be said
It was just last Friday in my Top 3 Takeaways entitled: Dumb Data Center Decisions & Taking on the Flock that I said this in response to the Palm Beach County Commissions' unanimous decision to move forward to a final vote on a one-year data center moratorium (after having already rejected Project Tango's proposal) that I said this... Real leaders inform themselves on issues and lead on the issues informing their constituents along the way. Real leaders have the courage of their convictions to do the right thing regardless of whether there may be controversy. Real leaders in politics don't worry about which way the wind may be blowing politically – they vote in the interests of constituents. What's clear based upon the ignorance that's been on display during the entirety of the AI debate is that there are no real leaders on the Palm Beach County Commission - just varying degrees of ignorant politically expedient politicians. Their decision to vote forward an artificial one-year moratorium on AI, is the technology equivalent of COVID lockdowns for the next year. The decision to kill Project Tango, which btw, the backers are currently trying to appeal, adjusted for inflation over the next decade killed an estimated $5.15 billion in tax revenue to the county, $2.15 billion in construction investment, 2,300 jobs that would have paid the employees $1.3 billion - meaning there's also $1.3 billion in lost local wages...and again that was just Project Tango – let alone the county now putting up the "We're Closed" sign when it comes to the age of AI. And right behind PBC comes Martin County, which just voted 4-1 to advance the issue of a potential one-year moratorium too. It just so happened to be the case that as an example of a real leader I pointed to President Trump...someone who does have the courage of his convictions and is willing to educate and lead regardless of whether his policy choices are politically popular. And seemingly right on cue Monday President Trump stepped up to the plate and laid out the data center case as bluntly as could be and as Trumpian as you'd expect it to be...posting this on Truth: The only reason that communities throughout the U.S.A. should not want Data Centers is if they want to end up being backwards and poor. If they want to be successful and rich, with far lower taxes and jobs all over the place, let Data Reign. If we kill the Golden Goose, you will only have yourselves to blame. China could not be happier with this anti Data Center movement. Actually, they can’t believe it is happening! This is precisely what I've been saying for months. The key to approving data center developments was ensuring proper regulations were in place so that Florida's communities would only be in a position to benefit from data center facilities. This is why I advocated for Florida's data center protection law which took effect July 1st and then turned my attention towards advocating for specific projects proposed in our area. Unfortunately, it would seem that by then the propaganda had taken hold sufficiently to taint most people in the community and by proxy ignorant (at best) and feckless commissioners who continue to fail to lead and to do the right thing for our communities. But with that said...
Takeaway #2: It's not too late to change
Now to be clear it's too late for the proposed Silver Fox project in Indiantown, it's also too late for the One Okeechobee project. But it's not necessarily too late for Project Tango, and it's certainly not too late for the Palm Beach and Martin County Commissions to come to their senses. Neither county has taken a final vote to put the moratorium in place. And what's needed, since neither county is led by commissioners who truly have what it takes to lead, is for the pro data center constituency to become at least as vocal Chinese propagandized anti-data center factions of the community. We don't have to say no to billions in investment, billions in property tax collections, billions in lost wages across thousands of jobs. We don't have to say no to future tech companies who would likely be attracted to the area if we were receptive to the age of AI and had infrastructure in place. Just as the internet was the future of the economy forty years ago, AI is the future of the internet age today. The question is whether we lead economically and benefit accordingly or, if in the words of President Trump...we want to end up backwards and poor. Time is of the essence as the decisions that will shape the future are being made today. Would you like data centers to pay your property taxes for you? That can happen. Would you like data centers to pay your power bill for you? That can happen. Would you like to win economically into the future or be relegated eventually to the economic dust bin of history with some nice real-estate? It's not too late to change but it's getting close so...
Takeaway #3: About Project Tango
When Project Tango was rejected in July, the vote was without prejudice – meaning that the plan can be refilled and revisited. Additionally, the developer is actively pursuing an appeal of the county commission decision. After all the land is already zoned commercial for an industrial complex and the plan fully complies with Florida's law. The first legal challenge is being made under Florida's Land Use and Environmental Dispute Resolution Act. The argument here is that the data center is fully compliant with Florida code and local zoning but was denied anyway. The second path being pursued is through Circuit Court litigation with the argument that the conduct of the county commissioners was inappropriate and specifically that they prejudged an outcome not based on the facts but based on public backlash. The legal arguments of the Project Tango team are strong and there's the potential they could win in the end through the legal process – but all of the nonsense could come to an end if the county commission came to their senses and did the right thing by the community as opposed to the politically expediate thing – which will backfire one day if they continue to play it this way. It's time for leadership and results...not fecklessness.