Six months after the project was announced, Nassau County officials say they have yet to receive details on a proposed 1,600-acre data center and energy project near Jacksonville International Airport.
Miami-based NextNRG said in a September news release it secured a long-term lease option on an unspecified property in Nassau County. NextNRG outlined plans for a 200-megawatt smart microgrid on roughly 1,200 acres. The remaining 400 acres, the company said, would be “ideal” for hyperscale data center development, citing access to power, water and fiber.
But Nassau County said it has no information about the project, including any potential rezoning requests or design approvals, and has not been in contact with the company despite proactive efforts. The county’s economic development board also confirmed it has no knowledge of the planned NextNRG project.
No civil engineer, architect or landowner has been associated with the proposal.
County officials they have taken calls and emails from residents asking questions about the project and expressing opposition to it.
On April 6, the county issued a statement: “We are aware of speculation regarding a proposed data center near the Jacksonville airport, possibly within Nassau County. At this time, neither the Board of County Commissioners nor any member of its staff has knowledge of this project outside of a press release issued by NextNRG.
“County staff has contacted multiple economic development partners, and no organization has any knowledge of such a project. The county has also attempted to reach NextNRG but has yet to receive a response.”
NextNRG did not respond to repeated requests for comment by the Daily Record, and the exact location of the proposed site remains unclear. The news release said the project would be developed in phases.
Founded in 2016, NextNRG focuses on renewable energy, microgrids and mobile fueling services. Its CEO, Michael Farkas, also founded Blink Charging, an electric vehicle charging equipment and services company.
On March 18, the company announced the launch of an AI-driven NextNRG Dashboard, a platform for monitoring and managing energy assets, including generation, battery storage, fuel systems, electric vehicle fleets and microgrid performance.
In December 2025, NextNRG reported 253% year-over-year revenue growth at $8.1 million, a sign the company remains active.
In February, the Florida Senate passed legislation regulating AI data centers to manage their effects on energy costs and water usage.
Scheduled to take effect July 1, the law requires public utilities to create specific tariffs for large energy users to shield residential customers from higher bills. It also gives developers a 12-month confidentiality period while mandating early public notification of new projects.