Election 2026: Where Byron Donalds stands on data centers, schools, home insurance, and Medicaid
Republican Florida gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds said local governments should continue deciding whether to approve data centers and opposed state preemption of those decisions. He also said utilities should ensure data centers do not increase electricity bills for residents, while criticizing opponent David Jolly's proposal for a statewide data center moratorium.
In an interview with FOX 13 Political Editor Craig Patrick, Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds discussed Florida's rules for data center development. He said local governments, rather than the state, approve data centers and opposed state preemption of local authority. Donalds also said residents should be protected from higher utility bills if data centers locate in areas served by rural electric cooperatives.
Donalds said the state's existing law requires data centers to bear their full utility costs when served by major power suppliers, but does not apply in the same way to municipal utilities and rural cooperatives. He argued cooperatives have little incentive to shift costs to their members and said his administration would ensure data center growth does not increase bills.
Donalds criticized Democratic opponent David Jolly's call for a statewide moratorium while officials study the issue, saying a state study is already underway and its findings will be released to the public and local governments.