FLORIDA — Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds says that, if elected governor, he would respect decisions by Florida cities and counties to prohibit massive data centers — placing local control at the center of one of the state's fastest-growing political fights.

Donalds remains supportive of artificial intelligence and data-center development generally. But he has now made clear that support does not mean Tallahassee should override communities that decide the facilities do not belong within their borders.

Asked whether he would respect local bans as governor, Donalds recently told Coastal Conservative News, as reported by Florida Politics, “No, we will respect them. I think we will respect them.”

The position has immediate relevance on the Treasure Coast. Indian River County does not permit hyperscale data centers in any zoning district, while Vero Beach has determined such facilities are incompatible with its industrial zoning, according to reporting on the growing number of Florida communities restricting the facilities.

DONALDS: DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT MAKING RATEPAYERS PAY

Donalds' position is more nuanced than simply opposing data centers.

He argues that Florida and the United States need the infrastructure required to compete in artificial intelligence, but that ordinary residents should not be forced to subsidize the extraordinary power and water demands of those facilities.

In July, Donalds introduced federal legislation dubbed the Protecting Ratepayers Act, which would require data-center operators to obtain their energy and water independently rather than relying on public electric grids and municipal water systems. In announcing the proposal, Donalds argued that America's existing electrical grid isn't prepared for the additional demand without potentially affecting consumers' wallets.

He has also advocated technologies including small modular or micronuclear reactors and closed-loop water filtration as potential ways of reducing the strain large facilities place on surrounding communities.

That creates a distinction in Donalds' position: he isn't proposing that Florida shut the door on the AI industry. Instead, he says companies should address their infrastructure demands while local governments retain authority over land use and permitting.

FLORIDA LAW ALREADY PROTECTS LOCAL AUTHORITY

That local-control argument isn't merely campaign rhetoric.

Florida lawmakers passed SB 484 this year, and Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it into law in May. The law specifically maintains local governments' authority over comprehensive planning and land-development regulation involving large-load customers such as major data centers.

The legislation also requires safeguards intended to prevent the electrical costs associated with large-load customers from being shifted onto ordinary utility customers.

Public utilities must file tariffs with the Florida Public Service Commission by Oct. 1, and the state's framework requires large-load customers to bear their own costs of service. The law also establishes additional requirements surrounding water-use permits for large-scale data centers and allows regulators to require reclaimed water under certain circumstances.

That means the broader argument in Florida is increasingly shifting from whether data centers should exist at all to where they should be built, who should decide, and who should pay for the infrastructure they require.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY ALREADY HAS A STAKE IN THE FIGHT

For IRC Media readers, this isn't an abstract statewide issue.

Indian River County's prohibition on hyperscale data centers places the county among a growing group of Florida communities imposing bans or restrictions. Vero Beach has similarly concluded that hyperscale facilities are incompatible with its industrial zoning.

The region has already experienced controversy surrounding data-center development.

Earlier this year, Indian River State College abandoned its proposed Okee-One data campus in neighboring Okeechobee County following growing opposition and a dispute involving state funding for the project. The proposed campus had been envisioned on approximately 205 acres along U.S. Highway 441 North.

Residents raised concerns about electricity, water consumption and the project's potential expansion.

Those same concerns are now appearing throughout Florida.

JOLLY WANTS A STATEWIDE MORATORIUM

The issue also provides voters with a clear distinction between the two candidates for governor.

Democratic nominee David Jolly has called for a statewide moratorium on new data-center construction, arguing Florida doesn't yet have adequate environmental, labor, privacy and safety protections in place.

Jolly's campaign has also attacked Donalds over his support from technology and data-center interests and has highlighted earlier Donalds comments welcoming development in Florida.

Donalds, however, is stopping short of Jolly's statewide moratorium.

His approach would allow development to continue where communities want it while respecting bans where local officials and residents decide otherwise.

FLORIDIANS ARE INCREASINGLY SKEPTICAL

Politically, Donalds is addressing an issue that has become considerably more difficult for candidates to ignore.

A July University of North Florida Public Opinion Research Lab survey of 848 likely midterm voters found approximately 68% opposed construction of an AI data center in their local area, while 28% supported it. Other Florida polling has produced different numbers depending heavily on how questions are worded, but recent surveys generally show substantial skepticism toward having these facilities built nearby.

The concern isn't limited to Florida.

An NPR analysis found more than $45 million had been spent nationally this year on political advertisements mentioning data centers through August, with candidates from both parties increasingly connecting the issue to electricity costs and affordability.

THE QUESTION FOR FLORIDA

Artificial intelligence isn't going away, and neither is the massive computing infrastructure required to power it.

The emerging question for Florida is whether economic development can occur without forcing existing residents to shoulder additional utility costs or surrendering local authority over land, water and development.

Donalds is betting that Florida can have both: continued technological development and strong local control.

For Indian River County residents, his pledge has a particularly concrete meaning. If Donalds follows through as governor, the county's existing decision against hyperscale data centers would remain a local decision rather than one overridden from Tallahassee.

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