Fishback residency hearing; Jolly on data centers
Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly has called for a statewide moratorium on data center construction in Florida, citing concerns over water and power grid protection. This proposal sparked a debate with U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, who argued that existing state law, SB 484, already addresses these environmental and utility concerns.
Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly announced a commitment to halt data center construction across the state until a comprehensive plan is established to safeguard Florida's water resources, power grid, and communities. In a press release and social media video from the Jolly-Graham campaign, Jolly explicitly called for a moratorium on new data centers. He further accused U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, a Republican frontrunner, of ceding "pristine Florida land" to the industry funding his campaign, proclaiming "Our state is not for sale."
Jolly's stance follows Donalds' earlier announcement of legislation aimed at preventing AI data centers from inflating utility costs. Donalds swiftly responded to Jolly's proposal via social media, countering that Governor Ron DeSantis's existing work, specifically Senate Bill 484, already provides sufficient protections for water and the power grid. Donalds affirmed his intention to maintain this law if elected governor, ensuring community protection.