Florida Democrats criticize Byron Donalds over data centers
Florida Democrats criticized Republican candidate Byron Donalds for campaign donations from AI developers and his stance on local control for data center approvals. Democrats are calling for a statewide moratorium on data centers, while Donalds defends local government's right to decide and highlights Senate Bill 484, which addresses utility costs. Environmental and utility concerns are central to the debate.
The political landscape in Florida is heating up with data center development becoming a key issue in the gubernatorial race. Democratic candidates are scrutinizing Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds over campaign donations received from tech executives and AI developers, questioning potential influences on his policies. During a news conference in Pinellas County, Democrats, including State House candidate Brian Beckman and Agriculture Commissioner nominee Joey Mendoza-Acton, called for a "rigid, unforgiving statewide moratorium on data centers." Beckman specifically visited Seminole, the site of a previously proposed data center, to highlight these concerns.
In response, Congressman Donalds, speaking at a campaign event in Sun City, Hillsborough County, reaffirmed his position that local governments should retain the final authority on data center construction within their communities. He dismissed the Democrats' criticisms as a political tactic aimed at his campaign. Donalds also referenced Senate Bill 484, signed into law in May, which aims to prevent data center utility costs from being passed on to residents, stating his commitment to protecting utility bills and water resources in Florida.
However, Mendoza-Acton argued that even with new laws protecting utility costs, voters remain concerned about the environmental impacts of hyperscale data centers. The Democratic challenger, David Jolly, also plans to visit "Data Center Alley" in Virginia to engage with residents reportedly negatively affected by data centers, having previously advocated for a one-year moratorium in Florida. The debate underscores a broader concern among some voters regarding the local and environmental consequences of unchecked data center expansion.