Conservative group warns local data center pauses risk driving billions out of Florida
Conservative advocate Jenn Pellegrino warns that a wave of local data center moratoriums in Florida's counties, including Hernando, Citrus, and Pasco, risks driving billions in private investment out of the state. She argues these pauses are based on misinformation about resource impacts, as state law SB 484 already addresses utility and water concerns by requiring data centers to cover infrastructure costs and follow strict water-permitting processes. Pellegrino emphasizes the economic benefits of data centers, citing a proposed Citrus County development as an example, and cautions against local bans that could hinder economic growth and align with a national progressive agenda.
Jenn Pellegrino, founder of Defend Forgotten America Action, issued a warning that a series of local moratoriums on artificial intelligence data centers across Florida could deter billions of dollars in private investment from the state. In an exclusive interview with Florida’s Voice, Pellegrino specifically cited Hernando, Citrus, and Pasco counties as areas where commissions are enacting these pauses.
Pellegrino contends that these local officials are acting on insufficient information regarding the impact of data centers on utility grids and water supplies. She argues that these delays are unnecessary because Florida already has regulatory safeguards in place, specifically Senate Bill 484, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and effective July 1. This law mandates that large power-consuming data centers fully fund their own infrastructure and electricity, preventing costs from shifting to residential utility bills, and establishes a stringent water-permitting process to protect local aquifers.
Highlighting the economic opportunities at stake, Pellegrino pointed to a proposed development in Citrus County that is projected to create 2,500 construction jobs, 825 permanent jobs, and generate $105 million in local property tax revenue. She emphasized that such big-tech infrastructure is a crucial path to prosperity for small urban and rural communities that have experienced decades of manufacturing decline and population loss.
Pellegrino also cautioned against the moratoriums' proponents, who often cite national progressive environmental concerns, arguing that by adopting sweeping regulatory bans, conservative Florida counties inadvertently align with an agenda that stifles American technological advancement and causes businesses to relocate their investments elsewhere.