David Jolly said the vast majority of Floridians oppose new data centers. Polls back that up.
Florida Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly stated that the vast majority of Floridians oppose new data center construction in the state, vowing a one-year moratorium if elected. Multiple polls, including one from the University of North Florida, support his claim, showing significant public opposition to data center development due to concerns over energy, water, and community impact.
Florida Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly claimed that a significant majority of Floridians oppose the construction of new artificial intelligence data centers across the state. Jolly, who pledged to implement a one-year moratorium on data center development if elected, emphasized that public opinion dictates leaders should listen to voters on this issue. This stance comes amidst national discussion about AI data center expansion.
A July poll by the University of North Florida found that 68% of surveyed Floridians would oppose a new data center in their local area. Other polls showed varying levels of opposition, from 49% to 89%, depending on how questions were phrased. Researchers noted that while Floridians are split on AI technology itself, opposition to its supporting infrastructure, like data centers, is strong.
Concerns driving public skepticism include the substantial electricity and water consumption of newer AI data centers, potential noise emissions, and their capacity to drastically alter communities. While data centers offer benefits like increased local employment and tax revenues, these are often outweighed by residents' worries.