Legislature Approves Bill Placing Regulations on Data Centers, Sends Bill to Gov. DeSantis

The Florida legislature has passed a bill that establishes a regulatory framework for large data centers in the state, including new rules for local governments, public utilities, and water regulators. The bill now goes to Governor DeSantis for signature. The legislation sets requirements for large-load customers (over 50MW), specifies that their costs cannot be shifted to other ratepayers, and creates a permitting process for large data centers' water use. The bill also directs a state government agency to commission an independent study on the impacts of large-scale data centers in Florida.