Data center backlash tests Byron Donalds campaign for governor
Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds is moderating his previously supportive position on data centers as voters and opponent David Jolly raise concerns about electricity, water use, noise and environmental impacts. Jolly supports a one-year statewide moratorium, while Donalds says local governments should have the final say and promises to enforce state regulations.
Republican Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds is facing political pressure over his past support for unrestricted data center development. His Democratic opponent, David Jolly, has criticized that position in digital advertising and supports a one-year moratorium on new data centers, citing potential environmental and energy impacts.
Donalds now says local governments, rather than the governor, will decide whether projects receive permits. He noted that 27 Florida cities and counties have imposed or are considering moratoriums because of concerns about electricity and water consumption, noise and aquifer protection. The campaign issue has also drawn attention to Florida legislation barring utilities from shifting data center-related grid upgrade costs onto residential and business customers.