'TURNING POINT': Florida's data center debate reaches the governor race
Fox Business examines how data center growth has become an issue in Florida’s gubernatorial race, focusing on electricity demand, water protection and utility costs. The report features a Digital Realty facility in downtown Miami and notes that 20 Florida counties have partially or fully blocked data centers.
Fox Business correspondent Ashley Webster reported from Digital Realty’s vertically oriented, seven-story data center in downtown Miami. Kevin McNulty of Digital Realty said the facility has operated for about 20 years, serves hundreds of clients and uses relatively little water beyond ordinary building consumption. The facility was presented as an example of how data centers can operate in dense urban settings rather than requiring sprawling sites.
The report said Florida ranks 14th nationally in data center count, behind states including Virginia and Texas, and that the issue has become prominent in the governor’s race. Candidates Byron Donalds and A.J. Jolly were portrayed as supporting business growth while emphasizing different concerns about public health, environmental protection, water resources and utility bills. The segment also said 20 Florida counties have partially or fully blocked data centers, reflecting a broader national debate over their local impacts and electricity needs.