David Jolly Says he Would Issue Moratorium on Data Centers, if Elected
David Jolly, the Democratic nominee for Florida governor, announced he would issue an immediate moratorium on data centers if elected, criticizing his Republican opponent, Rep. Byron Donalds, for past support. This pledge follows temporary moratoriums enacted by several Florida counties due to community concerns over data center water and electricity usage. Governor Ron DeSantis also signed legislation ensuring local governments can reject data center developments and protecting residents from related utility cost pass-throughs.
David Jolly, the Democratic nominee for Florida governor, announced his intention to implement an immediate statewide moratorium on data center development should he be elected in November. Jolly's declaration was made in an X post, where he criticized his Republican opponent, Rep. Byron Donalds, for his previous support for data center construction, asserting that Donalds "will build more" while Jolly would halt development.
This political stance follows recent actions by several Florida counties, which have voted to temporarily stop new data center applications due to mounting community opposition. Residents and local officials have expressed concerns regarding the substantial water and electricity consumption required by hyperscale data centers, particularly those supporting artificial intelligence infrastructure, fearing potential increases in utility costs.
In May, current Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 484 into law, which aims to protect residents by prohibiting utilities from passing data center-related costs onto consumers and reaffirming local governments' authority to reject data center proposals. Rep. Donalds, who had previously shown support for data centers, has reportedly softened his stance amidst public backlash, advocating for resident protections, although he remains opposed to a statewide moratorium.