Data center profile · Fort Meade, Polk County, Florida (west of U.S. 17-98, former phosphate mine)

Stonebridge Fort Meade (Project Stonebridge)

1.2 GW (developer's IT capacity) campus on 1,261 acres of former phosphate mine in Fort Meade, Florida; city-approved, no tenant, water permit or power contract.

Approved on paper, unpermitted. The city approved a development agreement on Apr. 14, 2026, contingent on a water permit not applied for as of late Apr. 2026. No tenant, lender, power agreement or construction is on record; two lawsuits and a recall drive pending.
The site, Aerial photo, Jan. 15, 2023
1.2 GW
IT capacity the developer's county filing designs for
phased build-out; no power contract exists
1,261 acres
eight parcels, mostly grazing land
seven owned by Florida Ecopark LLC, one by Polk Industrial Park
4.4M sq ft
maximum size in the city agreement, 8 buildings
the county filing described about 1.9M sq ft
50,000 gal/day
water the city reserved
developer first asked for 150,000; state officials call it underestimated
OperatorNone disclosed; developer is Stonebridge (Bethesda, Maryland) through Fort Meade LLC
CustomerNone disclosed; described by critics as speculative
Planned IT capacity1.2 GW at full build-out (company IT figure)
First building in serviceOur estimate: 2029 or later (no dated power path yet); company says 2028.
Next stepNo dated step on record; the city agreement is contingent on a regional water-use permit that needs a Governing Board vote
From orbit

The site from above

Satellite overview1
Aerial photo, Jan. 15, 2023. Pin: Stonebridge Fort Meade parcel block.
From orbit

Stonebridge Fort Meade parcel block

Latest clear view, Oct. 14, 2026. It comes from a lower-resolution satellite (10 m pixels), so buildings show as blocks of color, not detail.

Stonebridge Fort Meade parcel block
Lower-resolution satellite image, Oct. 14, 2026
Power

Power and the grid

None energized or contracted yet

Duke Energy Florida grid serviceProposed, no agreement
1,200 MW
the county filing gives 1.2 GW of IT capacity; the press figure for electricity use is also 1.2 GW; utility load is not stated; no service agreement exists and Duke's large-load tariff is not yet approved News report · April 2026
Proposed
Backup generators (emergency use, not a power supply)

Getting on the grid

Who supplies what, what it costs, and what is still not public.

  1. April 22, 2026
    Duke files its large-load tariff
    Duke Energy Florida asks the state for a policy requiring a minimum contract term, minimum bills, security and early termination fees for large customers. see Permits
  2. May 7, 2026
    State law takes effect July 1
    Florida's SB 484 requires utilities to file tariffs so that loads of 50 MW or more bear their full cost of service. Utility regulator · July 2026
  3. Aug. 25, 2026
    Commission hearing held
    The Public Service Commission heard the tariff; a vote is pending. News report · Aug. 2026
  4. Not set
    Service agreement: none
    No executed power agreement exists, and the city's own electric utility will not serve the campus. Utility regulator · July 2026
Permits

Permits checklist

1 pending · 3 granted · 4 checked, nothing on file

City land-use steps are done; every state permit and the power tariff is still open.

Risks

What could slow it down

Lawsuits

3 cases on record

Money

Money on record

$150M
tax break over 10 years
tied to more than $2.6B of planned investment (press) News report · April 2026
$125M
minimum investment the county exemption requires
plus 50 jobs at $106,498 average pay Local government · Nov. 2025
$10M
advance property-tax payment to the city
state commerce officials say it is not new revenue State agency · April 2026
$300,000
developer offer for future water supplies
per the city manager (press) News report · April 2026
$2.6B+
planned real estate and equipment investment (press); county floor is $125M
News report · April 2026

Not on record: financing, lender or tenant: none found State agency · Oct. 2026

Land assembly

2 recorded land documents for the campus company in county records (Nov. 2018 to May 2019); 1 lists a price. Parcel counts come from the deed; acreage is not recorded.

Timeline

What happened, and what is due

SitePaper trailConstructionPowerPermitsMoneyLegalUpcoming
  1. Nov. 21, 2018
    Money Land purchase by Florida Ecopark LLC recorded at $5M; seller not named (10 parcels) County deed records · Nov. 2018
  2. March 13, 2025
    Paper trail Fort Meade LLC, the project company, is formed in Delaware. Dataset · March 2025
  3. March 13, 2025
    Paper trail Fort Meade LLC registered in Delaware
  4. June 2025
    Permits City rezones the site for industrial use and approves a master plan. News report · Oct. 2026
  5. Nov. 4, 2025
    Permits Polk County grants a 90% county tax exemption for 2029 to 2038. Local government · Nov. 2025
  6. Dec. 16, 2025
    Permits The regional water district reserves final say on data-center water permits for its board. State agency · Dec. 2025
  7. Jan. 29, 2026
    Site Stonebridge presents to residents; state officials later say the presentation misstated readiness. State agency · April 2026
  8. April 14, 2026
    Permits City commission approves the development agreement unanimously, after 40 of 41 speakers opposed it (press). Local government · April 2026
  9. April 15, 2026
    Permits Florida's Commerce Secretary writes that the approval is far from final and hurdles remain. State agency · April 2026
  10. May 7, 2026
    Site The governor and lieutenant governor publicly attack the project. News report · May 2026
  11. May 14, 2026
    Legal Residents file two lawsuits against the city's approval. News report · May 2026
  12. July 15, 2026
    Site Watchdogs of Fort Meade submit recall petitions against three commissioners. News report · July 2026
  13. Aug. 25, 2026
    Power State regulators hold a hearing on Duke Energy's large-load tariff. News report · Aug. 2026
  14. Oct. 5, 2026
    Site Recall backers begin a second round of signature gathering for two commissioners. News report · Oct. 2026
  15. 2028
    Construction Developer's target for first building to operate (2028 or 2029, press). News report · April 2026
Construction activity

Satellite captures by quarter

Since Jan. 2023: 3 satellite captures.

Satellite
’23
’24
’25
’26
Dot size: records in the quarter, largest = 2. Two-digit years mark each first quarter.
The buildings

Specs

8 buildings
up to three stories and 60 feet each
News report · Sept. 2026
50 jobs (county) / 456 jobs (press)
county filing requires 50 at $106,498; the press cites 456 when fully operating
News report · April 2026
First building 2028 or 2029
developer's target (press); the county filing says business begins 2028
News report · April 2026
Who is involved

Owners, partners and builders

Owners and developers
  • Stonebridge (Bethesda, Md.): developer; Douglas Firstenberg is the founding principal
  • Fort Meade LLC (also Fort Meade DC, LLC): project company
  • Florida Ecopark LLC and Polk Industrial Park LLC: landowners
Power and utilities
  • Duke Energy Florida: serving utility
  • Florida Public Service Commission: decides the large-load tariff
Decision-makers
  • Fort Meade City Commission: approved the development agreement
  • Polk County Commission: granted the tax exemption
  • Southwest Florida Water Management District: must approve the water permit
  • FloridaCommerce: formally opposed the approval path
Opponents
  • Watchdogs of Fort Meade: residents' group running the recall
  • Environmental Confederation of Southwest Florida, with Earthjustice: asked the city to reconsider
  • Florida Rising: intervenor in the Duke tariff case
Still unknown

Open questions

Where this comes from

192 records from 33 documents

Drawn from news reports, public and commercial datasets, satellite captures, business registries, state agency records, local government records, utility regulator dockets and securities filings, each kept with its date and source. The bar shows documents by type.

News report 21Dataset 4Satellite 2State agency 2Local government 2Utility regulator 2SEC filing 2
Evidence

Every quote behind this page

Grade key: A = the primary record itself (permit, filing, exhibit) · B = a dated official statement · C = news reporting. Map distances are our own measurements on OpenStreetMap and carry no grade. Allegations in lawsuits are marked as such in the quotes.

Power (18)
  • Interconnection status: no executed ESA or interconnection agreement; Duke large-load tariff (PSC Docket 20260064-EI) unapproved
    “large load customers will stay under GSD-1 and GSDT-1 rates until after the Commission approves a new large load rate schedule in its next rate proceeding”
    Utility regulator · July 2026 · grade A
  • Rate class: Duke Energy Florida Large Load Customer Policy / Large Load Customer Agreement (LLCP/LLCA), proposed under s. 366.043 FS (SB 484)
    “seeking approval of a new Large Load Customer Policy (LLCP), a Large Load Customer Agreement (LLCA), and revised Contribution in Aid of Construction (CIAC) tariffs”
    Utility regulator · July 2026 · grade A
  • large load tariff approval: petition filed Apr 22, 2026; Florida Rising intervened; evidentiary hearing Aug 25-26, 2026; final decision pending at Oct 2026
    “On April 22, 2026, Duke Energy Florida, LLC (DEF or Utility) filed a petition for a limited proceeding seeking approval of a new Large Load Customer Policy (LLCP)”
    Utility regulator · July 2026 · grade A
  • SB 484 signed (Ch. 2026-65); effective Jul 1, 2026 as s. 366.043 FS: large load = >=50 MW monthly peak; IOUs must file large-load tariffs ensuring the large load customer bears its full cost of service; filings due Oct 1
    “The Governor signed SB 484 into law on May 7, 2026, which takes effect on July 1, 2026, as Section 366.043, Florida Statutes (F.S.)”
    Utility regulator · July 2026 · grade A
  • large load interconnection request: Duke Energy Florida petition for a limited proceeding to approve a Large Load Customer Policy (LLCP), Large Load Customer Agreement (LLCA) and revised CIAC tariffs filed (SB 484 compli
    “On April 22, 2026, Duke Energy Florida, LLC (DEF or Utility) filed a petition for a limited proceeding seeking approval of a new Large Load Customer Policy (LLCP)”
    Utility regulator · April 2026 · grade A
  • Square feet: 4400000 sq ft
    “construction of a 4,400,000ft2 hyperscale data center facility, including associated structures, electrical substations, and utility facilities”
    State agency · April 2026 · grade A
  • Power plan: grid
    “The location of the facility is within the territory of an Investor-Owned Utility that has not received approval from the Florida Public Service Commission on a rate structure”
    State agency · April 2026 · grade A
  • Stonebridge's Jan 29, 2026 presentation to the commission/forum; FloridaCommerce later said it plainly misrepresented the readiness and status of the water and energy needed for the project
    “The Developer's January 29, 2026, PowerPoint presentation to the City Commission plainly misrepresents the readiness and status of the water and energy”
    State agency · April 2026 · grade A
  • IT capacity: 1,200 MW
    “an approximate 1,925,000 square foot hyperscale data center campus designed to support phased build-out of up to 1.2 GW of IT load”
    Local government · Nov. 2025 · grade A
  • On-site equipment budget: 280000000 USD
    “Backup Generators New $280,000,000”
    Local government · Oct. 2025 · grade A
  • Paper or real: paper: entitlements real (ordinances adopted) but no water permit application, no power agreement, no tenant/operator, no financing and no construction as of Oct 2026
    “presents significant risks to Central Florida's energy capacity, water resources, and transportation infrastructure”
    State agency · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Minimum bill terms: 20-year contract; 75 to 85 percent minimum demand (as proposed)
    “The tariff Duke proposes includes a 20-year contract, 75 to 85 percent minimum demand, and a requirement that customers pay 100 percent of estimated grid extension costs upfront”
    News report · Aug. 2026 · grade C
  • Utility service: 1,200 MW
    “The data center would rely on Duke Energy to supply the estimated 1.2 gigawatts of power.”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C
  • Interconnection status: planned Duke Energy Florida service, not contracted: no ESA, interconnection study or campus filing is public, the developer had conveyed no plan to bring the necessary energy resources online as
    “As of this writing, the City, nor its development partner, have conveyed its plans to bring the necessary electric energy resources online to meet the development's proposed timeline,”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C
  • Stated campus size: 1,200 MW
    “The data center would use 1.2 gigawatts of electricity, about twice the power used by the city of Tallahassee, Reichert said”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C
  • Utility: Duke Energy Florida, LLC
    “The data center will receive power from Duke Energy and not Fort Meade's electrical utility”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C
  • Earthjustice (Reichert) letter to the Planning and Zoning Board: ~30 unanswered questions; developer had not submitted a final site plan; asked the board to require water-evaporation and noise studies and to prohibit on-
    “The Planning and Zoning Board lacks the information needed to have assurances about the impacts of the facility, she wrote”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C
  • On-site power technology: backup generators (diesel emergency generators; count and MW not stated)
    “The data center will be equipped with diesel-powered emergency generators, but those will only be run about an hour a week, unless the main power supply fails”
    News report · Jan. 2026 · grade C
Money and contracts (29)
  • Minimum bill terms: LLCA template: minimum contract term, minimum monthly bill provisions, security requirements, early termination provisions, non-refundable system impact fee, 100% CIAC advance
    “The LLCP and associated LLCA establish a minimum contract term, minimum monthly bill provisions, security requirements, and early termination provisions”
    Utility regulator · July 2026 · grade A
  • utility large load tariff (proposed): termination LLCA template includes early termination provisions, a minimum contract term, minimum monthly bill provisions and security requirements; no agreement has been executed wi
    “The LLCP and associated LLCA establish a minimum contract term, minimum monthly bill provisions, security requirements, and early termination provisions”
    Utility regulator · July 2026 · grade A
  • utility large load tariff (proposed): CIAC / scope large load customers pay 100 percent of the estimated costs to extend service in advance, plus a non-refundable system impact fee
    “the LLCP contains a CIAC provision requiring large load customers to pay 100 percent of the estimated costs to extend service in advance”
    Utility regulator · July 2026 · grade A
  • Tenants: not stated
    “a massive technology center for speculative purposes - especially given that a data center operator has not yet been disclosed”
    State agency · April 2026 · grade A
  • Conditions of approval: development agreement contingent on SWFWMD consumptive use permit; developer limited to the allotted water quantity
    “As noted by the City Commission, the approval is contingent on the receipt of a consumptive use permit”
    State agency · April 2026 · grade A
  • development agreement: scope 20-year agreement implementing the 2025 FLUM/IPUD/master-plan approvals; hyperscale campus up to 4,400,000 sq ft with substations and utility facilities
    “the City of Fort Meade's April 14 approval to enter into a development agreement with Florida Ecopark LLC for a proposed hyperscale data center known as Project Stonebridge”
    State agency · April 2026 · grade A
  • development agreement: condition precedent approval contingent on receipt of a Southwest Florida Water Management District consumptive use (water use) permit
    “As noted by the City Commission, the approval is contingent on the receipt of a consumptive use permit by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD)”
    State agency · April 2026 · grade A
  • development agreement: water reservation city reserves 50,000 gallons/day of potable water for the project gallons/day
    “the Project is anticipated to have a minimum demand of 50,000 gallons of water per day”
    State agency · April 2026 · grade A
  • development agreement: tax advance payment $10,000,000 advance payment of future property taxes, credited against property tax payments; city to apply to infrastructure improvements USD
    “The Developer's representation that the City would be receiving a $10 million contribution is not new revenue - it is simply an advanced payment of property taxes”
    State agency · April 2026 · grade A
  • development agreement: infrastructure obligations developer to design, engineer, permit and construct water-related improvements; construct publicly necessary water and wastewater improvements; city reserves water and wa
    “the Developer is required to undertake the design, engineering, permitting, and construction of certain water-related improvements to serve the Project”
    State agency · April 2026 · grade A
  • development agreement: vertiport cooperation city to make good faith efforts to cooperate with the developer regarding potential vertiport facilities on the property
    “The Development Agreement also states that the City will make good faith efforts to cooperate with the Developer regarding potential vertiport facilities on the property”
    State agency · April 2026 · grade A
  • Incentives: Polk County economic development ad valorem tax exemption: 90% of county levy on qualifying improvements and equipment, tax years 2029-2038
    “an Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemption of ninety percent (90%) of the assessed value of the net increase in qualifying improvements to real property and qualifying tangible personal property”
    Local government · Nov. 2025 · grade A
  • Workforce estimate: 50 FTE jobs
    “will create at least 50 new full-time jobs in Polk County paying an average annual wage equal to or in excess of $106,498”
    Local government · Nov. 2025 · grade A
  • county tax exemption ordinance: exemption 90% exemption from county ad valorem taxes on the net increase in qualifying real-property improvements and tangible personal property %
    “an Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemption of ninety percent (90%) of the assessed value of the net increase in qualifying improvements”
    Local government · Nov. 2025 · grade A
  • county tax exemption ordinance: performance conditions at least 50 new full-time jobs at average wage >= $106,498 (200% of 2025 Polk County average); investment of at least $125,000,000 in improvements and equipment
    “The Company will create at least 50 new full-time jobs in Polk County paying an average annual wage equal to or in excess of $106,498”
    Local government · Nov. 2025 · grade A
  • county tax exemption ordinance: termination / clawback exemption conditioned on a Business Maintenance and Continued Performance Agreement; on non-compliance the Board may revoke the exemption and recover taxes exempted
    “the Board may, in its discretion, revoke the Fort Meade LLC Exemption and recover any taxes exempted during the Exemption Period”
    Local government · Nov. 2025 · grade A
  • county tax exemption ordinance: scope limit county-wide levy only; does not apply to municipal, school district, MSTU or water management district taxes, nor to the land
    “The County ad valorem tax exemption granted herein applies only to countywide ad valorem taxes levied by Polk County”
    Local government · Nov. 2025 · grade A
  • county tax exemption ordinance: expiration exemption expires December 31, 2038
    “The exemption granted herein shall automatically expire on December 31, 2038, and shall no longer be in force or effect thereafter”
    Local government · Nov. 2025 · grade A
  • Land purchase (recorded deed): contract value USD
    “Recorded: May 9, 2019 · Mortgage1amount: 7398898 · Grantee: FLORIDA ECOPARK LLC · Parcel number: 253116000000012060 · Address: US HIGHWAY 17 N · City: BARTOW”
    County deed records · May 2019 · grade B
  • Land purchase (recorded deed): contract value 5000000 USD
    “Recorded: Nov. 21, 2018 · Price: $5,000,000 · Grantee: FLORIDA ECOPARK LLC · Parcel number: 253108000000022010 · Address: US HIGHWAY 17 N · City: BARTOW”
    County deed records · Nov. 2018 · grade B
  • Financing: none found - no lender, loan, bond or equity commitment disclosed
    “a massive technology center for speculative purposes”
    State agency · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Buildings: 8 buildings
    “Up to 4.4 million square feet across 8 planned buildings (max 3 stories / 60 feet height)”
    News report · Sept. 2026 · grade C
  • development agreement: termination NOT LOCATED - the executed development agreement text is not publicly posted, so termination, cancellation and default clauses could not be reviewed (finding)
    “Whether the April 14 minutes are adopted as drafted, and whether the development agreement itself gets posted”
    News report · Sept. 2026 · grade C
  • Stated capital cost: 2600000000 USD
    “a $150 million, 10-year tax break tied to more than $2.6 billion in planned real estate and equipment investment”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C
  • development agreement: water request history developer's original request was 150,000 gallons/day; agreement reserves 50,000 gallons/day
    “the city will reserve 50,000 gallons of potable water per day for the project, down from Stonebridge's original request of 150,000 gallons”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C
  • Tenant status: none - no operator or tenant disclosed; speculative
    “Stonebridge has not yet revealed who the ultimate owner and operator of the data center will be”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C
  • Workforce estimate: 456 jobs
    “create 456 jobs when fully operational, with an average salary of more than $100,000”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C
  • development agreement: water supply funding developer to fund up to $300,000 to secure additional water supplies (likely via Polk Regional Water Cooperative / Southeast Wellfield membership) USD
    “The developer also offered Fort Meade $300,000 to be used for securing future water supplies, City Manager Troy Bell said”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C
  • Assessed value: 268185 USD
    “What those 1,261 acres are assessed at on the 2026 roll $268,185”
    News report · 2026 · grade C
Permits and government (25)
  • water use permit (consumptive use): required; district notified city Apr 14, 2026 that the demand is not in the city's existing permit and needs Governing Board approval at a publicly noticed meeting before use
    “As noted in the April 14, 2026, correspondence from SWFWMD to the City, the Project is anticipated to have a minimum demand of 50,000 gallons of water per day”
    State agency · April 2026 · grade A
  • environmental resource permit + air/water quality/stormwater permits: required, none obtained (per FloridaCommerce, Apr 15, 2026)
    “In addition to a state environmental resource permit, the Project will have to obtain several additional permits as more detail comes to light, including permits related to the region's air quality”
    State agency · April 2026 · grade A
  • rail crossing approval: required for the site plan's proposed CSX corridor crossing; not obtained (per FloridaCommerce)
    “publicly available materials fail to reference the requirement for approval from CSX Transportation”
    State agency · April 2026 · grade A
  • FloridaCommerce Secretary J. Alex Kelly wrote the mayor that the DA approval is contingent on a SWFWMD consumptive use permit, called the 50,000 gpd water figure woefully underestimated, the >450-jobs projection a likely
    “your citizenry can breathe a sigh of relief that what passed yesterday is far from approved and the hurdles ahead all but guarantee challenges”
    State agency · April 2026 · grade A
  • development agreement approval: approved April 14, 2026, contingent on SWFWMD water use permit
    “Motion: Vice Mayor McCutchen motions to accept the development agreement with Stonebridge. Second: by Commissioner Taylor. Voice Vote: Unanimous yes”
    Local government · April 2026 · grade A
  • Fort Meade City Commission: public hearing and approval of the development agreement with Stonebridge
    “Motion: Vice Mayor McCutchen motions to accept the development agreement with Stonebridge. Second: by Commissioner Taylor. Voice Vote: Unanimous yes”
    Local government · April 2026 · grade A
  • Fort Meade City Commission: public forum: resident opposition to the data center; tentative Stonebridge town hall meeting dates
    “Ms. Rice said she appreciated the Commission putting off the vote on the data center to allow the developers more time to meet with residents”
    Local government · Jan. 2026 · grade A
  • water use permit policy (data centers reserved to Governing Board): policy adopted Dec 16, 2025 - board retains final agency action on data-center water use permits
    “staff recommend that the Governing Board retain the authority to take final agency action on permits that authorize water use for data centers”
    State agency · Dec. 2025 · grade A
  • SWFWMD Governing Board: Item 2.5: delegation of authority policy - board retains final action on data-center water use permits
    “staff recommend that the Governing Board retain the authority to take final agency action on permits that authorize water use for data centers”
    State agency · Dec. 2025 · grade A
  • county ad valorem tax exemption ordinance: adopted; exemption effective tax year 2029
    “DULY ADOPTED in regular session, this 4th day of November, 2025”
    Local government · Nov. 2025 · grade A
  • Polk County Board of County Commissioners: Ordinance 25-062: economic development ad valorem tax exemption for Fort Meade LLC + performance agreement
    “DULY ADOPTED in regular session, this 4th day of November, 2025”
    Local government · Nov. 2025 · grade A
  • air permit (on-site generation): none found - no application or permit located
    “including permits related to the region's air quality, water quality and stormwater management, and mitigation plans to protect the region's wildlife”
    State agency · Oct. 2026 · grade B
  • Stage: entitled, pre-permit (paper): city land-use entitlements and county tax exemption secured, but construction is gated on a SWFWMD water-use permit that had not been applied for, an unapproved PSC large-load tariff,
    “the approval is contingent on the receipt of a consumptive use permit by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD)”
    State agency · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • City approved 23 sets of backlogged minutes at the TRIM hearing; the Apr 14, 2026 data-center minutes had described extensive public opposition only vaguely
    “Most notably missing were the minutes from the April 14, 2026 meeting in which the commission voted unanimously in favor of welcoming a hyperscale data center”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Fort Meade City Commission: approval of 23 backlogged sets of minutes, including the Apr 14, 2026 development-agreement minutes
    “The minutes from this meeting were submitted for approval on Sept. 8, but approval was delayed until Sept. 17”
    News report · Sept. 2026 · grade C
  • Florida Public Service Commission: evidentiary/public hearing on Duke Energy Florida large load tariff, Docket 20260064-EI
    “The new proposal was discussed at a Florida Public Service Commission public hearing held on August 25, 2026”
    News report · Aug. 2026 · grade C
  • Jurisdiction: land use: City of Fort Meade (site inside city limits); county role limited to tax exemption; state gates: PSC large-load tariff (s. 366.043 FS) and SWFWMD board-level water permit; SB 484 (Ch. 2026-65) doe
    “The Governor signed SB 484 into law on May 7, 2026, which takes effect on July 1, 2026, as Section 366.043, Florida Statutes (F.S.)”
    Utility regulator · July 2026 · grade C
  • Construction stage: not stated
    “Before a single shovel breaks ground, Stonebridge must secure a water-use permit from the Southwest Florida Water Management District”
    News report · June 2026 · grade C
  • water use permit (consumptive use): not applied for as of late April 2026; no issuance reported through Oct 2026
    “As of late April 2026, Stonebridge had not applied”
    News report · June 2026 · grade C
  • As of late April 2026 no SWFWMD water use permit application had been filed; without it, construction cannot proceed regardless of the city agreement
    “As of late April 2026, Stonebridge had not applied”
    News report · June 2026 · grade C
  • Fort Meade Planning and Zoning Board: recommend approval of the development agreement
    “Fort Meade's Planning and Zoning Board voted 6-0 at its April 7 meeting to recommend approval of the development agreement, with minor amendments”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C
  • Fort Meade City Commission: development agreement first taken up (Ordinance May 2026 per Boundsight); planned vote later delayed in March
    “Fort Meade's City Commission first took up the deal on March 10. It was a development agreement with Fort Meade, LLC, doing business as Fort Meade DC, LLC (Ordinance 2026-05)”
    News report · March 2026 · grade C
  • Stonebridge (company public forum): developer presentation and public forum on the proposed campus
    “Citizens have spoken at previous meetings, and they challenged statements by Stonebridge executives at a public forum the company held on Jan. 29”
    News report · Jan. 2026 · grade C
  • Rezoning date: June 2025
    “The land parcel, located west of Highway 98, was rezoned for industrial use last June, and a master development plan for the campus has already been approved”
    News report · June 2025 · grade C
  • land use entitlement (FLUM amendment, IPUD rezoning, master development plan): approved
    “adopted an ordinance in 2025 amending the future land-use map to designate the site as industrial”
    News report · June 2025 · grade C
Legal (6)
  • Commissioner Taylor sued the recall committee chair, city officials and the Supervisor of Elections in circuit court to halt the recall, arguing the petition states no valid statutory grounds
    “Taylor filed a civil lawsuit on Sept. 8 in Polk County's Circuit Court seeking to have the recall process halted”
    News report · Sept. 2026 · grade C
  • McNerney et al. v. City of Fort Meade, 2026CA-003001-A000-BA - civil complaint (filed May 14; case management plan Jun 15, 2026) seeking to void the approval and block construction permits; trial projected Nov 2027
    “George McNerney et al. v. City of Fort Meade, Case No. 2026CA-003001-A000-BA, Complaint and Civil Case Management Plan, Tenth Judicial Circuit, Polk County, Florida, filed May 14 and June 15, 2026”
    News report · June 2026 · grade C
  • Opposition: Watchdogs of Fort Meade (residents); Environmental Confederation of Southwest Florida via Earthjustice; two lawsuits; recall campaign against 3 commissioners
    “a community opposition group is gathering signatures in a bid to recall three city commissioners”
    News report · June 2026 · grade C
  • Lawsuits: McNerney et al. v. City of Fort Meade, 2026CA-002488-A000-BA (writ of certiorari) and 2026CA-003001-A000-BA (complaint), Tenth Judicial Circuit, Polk County, filed May 14, 2026
    “George McNerney et al. v. City of Fort Meade, Case No. 2026CA-002488-A000-BA, Petition for Writ of Certiorari, Tenth Judicial Circuit, Polk County, Florida, filed May 14, 2026”
    News report · May 2026 · grade C
  • McNerney et al. v. City of Fort Meade, 2026CA-002488-A000-BA - petition for writ of certiorari (10th Judicial Circuit) challenging the approvals for defective notice/compatibility review
    “George McNerney et al. v. City of Fort Meade, Case No. 2026CA-002488-A000-BA, Petition for Writ of Certiorari, Tenth Judicial Circuit, Polk County, Florida, filed May 14, 2026”
    News report · May 2026 · grade C
  • Gov. DeSantis and Lt. Gov. Jay Collins publicly attacked the project; Collins urged the commission to reconsider its approval; Firstenberg responded welcoming SB 484
    “Collins said he would encourage Fort Meade's City Commission to reconsider approval of a development plan for the data center”
    News report · May 2026 · grade C
Site and other (25)
  • Name: Stonebridge Fort Meade
    “a proposed hyperscale data center known as Project Stonebridge”
    State agency · April 2026 · grade A
  • Code names: Project Stonebridge
    “a proposed hyperscale data center known as Project Stonebridge”
    State agency · April 2026 · grade A
  • Operator: none disclosed
    “a massive technology center for speculative purposes - especially given that a data center operator has not yet been disclosed”
    State agency · April 2026 · grade A
  • Water use stated: 50000 gallons per day
    “the Project is anticipated to have a minimum demand of 50,000 gallons of water per day”
    State agency · April 2026 · grade A
  • Owner companies: Fort Meade LLC (Delaware limited liability company)
    “Fort Meade LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Company) submitted an application to the County”
    Local government · Nov. 2025 · grade A
  • Parcel IDs: 25-31-08-000000-022010; 25-31-09-000000-024010; 25-31-17-000000-011020; 25-31-17-000000-022010; 25-31-16-000000-022010; 25-31-21-000000-011010; 25-31-16-000000-012040; 25-31-16-000000-012060
    “identified by the following Tax Parcel ID numbers”
    Local government · Nov. 2025 · grade A
  • Phases: phased build-out; Phase I in county filings (construction of improvements 2026-2027 per DR-418)
    “50 (Phase I direct hires, excluding construction jobs)”
    Local government · Nov. 2025 · grade A
  • Original target date: 2028
    “Date you began, or will begin, business at this facility 2028”
    Local government · Oct. 2025 · grade A
  • Time to service (months): >=24 months
    “expects to have the first building operating by 2028 or 2029”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Site description: Former phosphate-mine property west of US-98 in northwest Fort Meade, near Duke Energy's Hines Energy Complex; rezoned for industrial use in June 2025; master development plan approved
    “The land parcel, located west of Highway 98, was rezoned for industrial use last June, and a master development plan for the campus has already been approved”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Watchdogs began second-round signature gathering for the Williams and Taylor recalls (15% of registered voters within 60 days required)
    “The group Watchdogs of Fort Meade has begun gathering signatures on petitions, said one of its leaders, Raul Alfonso”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Polk County Supervisor of Elections certified sufficient signatures for Williams (391 valid; 270 needed) and Taylor (147; 100 needed); McCutchen's petition failed (40 valid; 100 needed)
    “The assessment verified enough signatures from voters to continue the recall process for Mayor Jaret Landon Williams and Commissioner Matthew Taylor but not enough for Vice Mayor Petrina McCutchen”
    News report · Aug. 2026 · grade C
  • Watchdogs of Fort Meade submitted recall petitions against Mayor Williams, Vice Mayor McCutchen and Commissioner Taylor to City Hall (claimed 431/430/441 signatures); first recall campaign in city history; partly motivat
    “Leaders of the Watchdogs of Fort Meade group submitted three batches of petitions to City Hall on July 15”
    News report · July 2026 · grade C
  • Earthjustice's 15-page letter for ECOSWF asked the city to hold a special meeting and reconsider the DA approval, citing the Kelly letter and SWFWMD notice as substantial new information
    “substantial new information has come to light that would justify the City's reconsideration of its approval”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C
  • Developer: Stonebridge (Bethesda, MD real estate developer; Stonebridge Associates / StonebridgeCarras lineage)
    “Stonebridge, based in suburban Washington, D.C., plans to build a 4.4 million-square-foot, hyperscale facility”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C
  • Address: former phosphate mine west of U.S. 17-98, northern Fort Meade, FL
    “on a former phosphate mine just west of U.S. 17-98”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C
  • Cooling: closed-loop (developer-stated at approval)
    “the data center would use a closed-loop to cool equipment, recirculating water rather than needing new supplies”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C
  • Current target date: 2028-2029
    “expects to have the first building operating by 2028 or 2029”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C
  • Owner companies: Florida Ecopark LLC (landowner of 7 of 8 site parcels)
    “seven owned by Florida Ecopark LLC, one by Polk Industrial Park LLC”
    News report · 2026 · grade C
  • Acres: 1261 acres
    “Acres in the eight Fort Meade parcels Polk's tax-exemption ordinance names 1,261”
    News report · 2026 · grade C
  • Land use current: grazing land (agricultural classification, use code 60); former phosphate mine, reclaimed
    “every parcel is classified as grazing land”
    News report · 2026 · grade C
  • Parcel IDs: 25-31-08-000000-022010; 25-31-09-000000-024010; 25-31-16-000000-012040; 25-31-16-000000-012060; 25-31-16-000000-022010; 25-31-17-000000-011020; 25-31-17-000000-022010; 25-31-21-000000-011010
    “We took the eight tax parcel numbers the ordinance lists — 25-31-08-000000-022010, 25-31-09-000000-024010, 25-31-16-000000-012040, 25-31-16-000000-012060, 25-31-16-000000-022010, 25-31-17-000000-011020, 25-31-17-000000-022010 and 25-31-21-000000-011010”
    News report · Nov. 2025 · grade C
  • Site acres: 1261 acres
    “Acres in the eight Fort Meade parcels Polk's tax-exemption ordinance names: 1,261; all inside Fort Meade city limits; seven owned by Florida Ecopark LLC, one by Polk Industrial Park LLC”
    News report · Nov. 2025 · grade C
  • County code: 12105
    “Acres in the eight Fort Meade parcels Polk's tax-exemption ordinance names: 1,261; all inside Fort Meade city limits; seven owned by Florida Ecopark LLC, one by Polk Industrial Park LLC”
    News report · Nov. 2025 · grade C
  • Announced: 2025
    “adopted an ordinance in 2025 amending the future land-use map to designate the site as industrial”
    News report · 2025 · grade C

Imagery and records: Satellite and aerial imagery: local aerial photography via Esri World Imagery Wayback; Sentinel-2 (ESA Copernicus). County deeds: ATTOM.