Florida Candidates and Counties Confront Growing Opposition to Data Centers
Florida voters and local officials are confronting growing opposition to hyperscale data centers over concerns about water use, electricity costs and noise. In Osceola County, a petition urges officials to reject a proposed site in Kenansville, while Lake County enacted a 90-day pause and Orange County is considering a moratorium.
Data center development has become a major political issue in Florida, where a University of North Florida poll found that 68% of voters oppose such facilities in their communities. Concerns include heavy water and electricity consumption, potential rate increases, environmental impacts and noise. Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds supports local control and regulation of facility locations, while Democrat David Jolly has called for a one-year moratorium on new data centers if elected.
In Osceola County, CBRE is marketing a 2,232-acre property near Kenansville as a hyperscale data center site, with Duke Energy service and permitted water resources. More than 600 people have signed a petition asking the county commission to reject any proposal and require public hearings and full disclosure of water, energy and environmental impacts. County officials said they will not act on large-scale data centers until a state-mandated study is submitted.
Lake County commissioners enacted a 90-day pause on new data centers and directed staff to draft an ordinance requiring conditional-use approval. Orange County commissioners have signaled support for a possible moratorium but have not voted on it. Florida Democrats, including Rep. Anna Eskamani, have also made opposition to data centers a campaign issue.