CONSULTING SERVICES FOR THE PREPARATION OF A DATA CENTER AND LARGE-LOAD DEVELOPMENT REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

The purpose of this project is to prepare a comprehensive regulatory framework that enables the City to responsibly evaluate future data centers and other large-load developments in a manner that protects public health, safety, and welfare while: Protecting existing utility customers from subsidizing growth-related infrastructure Ensuring that development-related costs and financial risks are appropriately assigned to the proposed development Maintaining reliable electric, water, wastewater, and stormwater service Protecting environmental resources and promoting responsible water and energy use Preserving community character and protecting sensitive land uses Promoting responsible economic development Providing a predictable and transparent regulatory process Establishing legally defensible development standards consistent with Florida law The regulatory framework should establish consistent standards for data centers and other large-load developments regardless of whether a facility is newly constructed, constructed on a greenfield site, or located within an existing or speculative building. Requirements should be based on the anticipated impacts and infrastructure demands of the proposed use and should appropriately address the infrastructure, utility, environmental, public safety, and fiscal implications of both new construction and the reuse or conversion of existing facilities. The project is intended to produce an integrated regulatory framework, not a comprehensive master plan, for managing future data center and large-load development. The recommendations should balance economic opportunity with infrastructure capacity, environmental stewardship, fiscal responsibility, and long-term community objectives. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the analyses required under this RFP are intended to establish a planning and policy-level basis for the City's regulatory framework and are not intended to substitute for project-specific engineering, environmental permitting, utility interconnection, or other technical studies that may be required of individual applicants.