Florida GOP lawmaker and governor candidate says AI data center legislation keeps utility costs down

Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, a candidate for Florida governor, announced legislation Monday requiring AI data centers to obtain all electricity and water from private sources rather than public utilities, aiming to prevent the centers from driving up utility costs. The proposal aligns with a voluntary initiative from President Donald Trump, but comes amid growing backlash as over 20 Florida counties and municipalities have voted to reject or pause data center construction due to concerns over costs, community disruption, and environmental damage.

Florida GOP lawmaker and governor candidate says AI data center legislation keeps utility costs down WASHINGTON AP — Byron Donalds, a Republican congressman running for Florida governor https://apnews.com/article/byron-donalds-florida-governor-elections-2026-trump-5884b17305d6ef64408934dbdd65a210 , on Monday announced legislation intended to prevent artificial intelligence data centers from driving up utility costs https://apnews.com/article/data-center-artificial-intelligence-electricity-costs-rise-a6cdf9aa09d1cd3dbf82750430c15373 , the latest sign of a political backlash over the new technology. The proposal, if passed by Congress, would require data centers to obtain all their electricity and water needs https://apnews.com/article/ai-data-centers-environment-climate-footprint-a792f184a9f2833b5388dbae8b41ca95 from private sources, rather than the power grid or public water systems. The idea aligns with an earlier, voluntary initiative https://apnews.com/article/trump-ai-data-centers-electricity-costs-9a3fbe8a9e68197dd470c7c02d92d7ab from President Donald Trump. "If you talk to these guys who are building these data centers, if it means that they have to pick up the utility costs, they're more than willing to do it," Donalds said in an interview with The Associated Press. "It's in their interest to make sure that we can construct these centers, and I think the number one way you address and mitigate the concerns that people are having is to just ensure their utility bills aren't going up in the process." Donalds' proposal is noteworthy coming from a candidate https://apnews.com/article/byron-donalds-donald-trump-florida-governor-desantis-7cf12bdb0899d0165c4cbd98e5b3abe3 backed by pro-AI political action committees and Trump. The legislation comes during a rapid nationwide buildout of data centers to match growing demand for artificial intelligence systems. Major technology firms at the heart of the AI boom have quickly become some of the world's most valuable and watched companies, while the Trump administration has aligned itself with the industry's major players. Several major tech companies developing AI infrastructure have committed to agreements with the Trump administration to cover the expenses of building new power sources rather than shifting the burden to residential households. But given the expected increase in demand, it's unclear if the voluntary agreement is legally enforceable. The furious pace of construction and high stakes of the technology have raised concerns among many Americans https://apnews.com/article/data-center-heat-wave-lowell-5607b4ea8ef9776b28268561060752a8 . In Florida, more than 20 counties and municipalities have voted to reject the construction of major data centers, while others have banned their construction for at least a year. Residents and local leaders often cite concerns over increased utility bills, disruption of local communities and environmental damage https://apnews.com/article/data-centers-ai-artificial-intelligence-renewable-energy-7995717f506914fc181a07d32d1867a5 as major reasons for the pauses. "These companies have been a step behind and didn't realize how quickly the ground was shifting under their feet," said Matt Gorman, a Republican strategist. Gorman said that progressive climate activists and conservative populists have both seized on the data center issue, requiring tech firms to "tell a better story" and address concerns from across the political spectrum.