20 data centers are operating or planned in Florida as candidates clash
With 12 data centers operating and eight planned in Florida, the facilities' impacts are emerging as a key issue in the gubernatorial race. Democratic candidate David Jolly proposes a one-year moratorium on construction, citing noise and environmental concerns. Meanwhile, the Orange County Commission has advanced a plan for a temporary ban on data center development.
Florida is currently home to 12 operating data centers with an additional eight planned, making their impacts a significant issue in the state's gubernatorial race. Democratic candidate David Jolly advocates for a one-year moratorium on data center construction if elected, citing personal observations from a visit to Northern Virginia where he witnessed noise pollution, respiratory issues, and decreased property values near data center sites.
Jolly argues that "Big tech, big data, the utilities are rushing into a relatively unregulated environment" in Florida, leading to communities feeling powerless to resist. His Republican opponent, Byron Donalds, dismisses the moratorium proposal as "politics" and suggests that Florida's data center developments would be situated away from residential areas, unlike those in Northern Virginia.
Local actions reflect growing concerns, with the Orange County Commission recently advancing a plan for a 6-to-18 month moratorium on data center development to allow time for research into potential harms. Furthermore, three local governments in Florida have already enacted permanent bans, and 19 others have paused such development. The Florida Legislature, with Gov. Ron DeSantis's approval, previously passed legislation preventing utilities from passing data center electricity costs to residents and preserving local zoning authority, allowing localities to deny projects or set strict standards.
While advocates for data centers emphasize their importance for national security and AI competitiveness, Jolly maintains that Florida's economic stability would not be compromised by rejecting data center construction, encouraging other states to host them instead.