Key facts
- Florida primary candidates are debating data center development, with stances ranging from bans to moratoriums and regulations.
- Democratic candidates like David Jolly support moratoriums, while Dotie Joseph favors tighter regulations.
- Republican candidates include James Fishback advocating for a ban and Paul Renner supporting a moratorium.
- Byron Donalds and Jay Collins support guardrails on data center development.
- Donalds, endorsed by Trump, aims to balance development with protecting electricity costs and water supply.
- Opponents criticize Donalds for campaign contributions from the data center industry.
- In Palm Beach County, many candidates for commission seats support a moratorium or oppose 'Project Tango'.
- Jeremy Matlow proposed a one-year moratorium in Tallahassee, which was voted down.
- Data centers are part of a broader debate about Florida's rapid growth.
Florida's primary elections are highlighting a growing opposition to data center development, with candidates across the political spectrum taking varied stances on the issue. On the Democratic side, front-runner David Jolly supports a moratorium, while State Rep. Dotie Joseph has indicated a preference for stricter regulations.
In the Republican field, controversial investor James Fishback has pledged an outright ban on data centers, and former state House Speaker Paul Renner has adopted a moratorium approach. Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and Rep. Byron Donalds, who has received Trump's endorsement, have stated their support for implementing certain guardrails on the industry's expansion. Donalds, however, has also emphasized that Florida should embrace data center development while ensuring it does not negatively impact electricity costs for residents or the state's water supply.
Donalds' opponents have criticized him for accepting significant campaign contributions from the data center industry, with Donalds himself dismissing moratorium and ban promises as politically expedient but unrealistic. "There ain’t no bans coming," he stated, "But it sounds good on TV. Or it sounds good on social media."
In Palm Beach County, a significant number of candidates vying for open commission seats have expressed support for a data center moratorium or opposition to the specific 'Project Tango' hyperscale data center proposal. Jeremy Matlow, a city commissioner running for Tallahassee mayor, views the data center debate as a defining issue and a litmus test for local concerns about overdevelopment. Matlow's earlier proposal for a one-year moratorium in Tallahassee was rejected by the commission.