TALLAHASSEE, Florida — A new group that says it represents data center developers argues the state stands to lose out on a “multi-trillion-dollar economic opportunity” if it backs Florida Power & Light’s proposed rate-hike request.
The Florida Energy for Innovation Association made the arguments this week in filed testimony with state regulators as Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday argued for maintaining state and local control over where the huge data centers associated with artificial intelligence are built.
“These AI data centers — like massive amounts of power go into them,” DeSantis said at a Jacksonville bill signing. “Do you want those set up right by the rec center of some residential neighborhood? I think you should be able to say no if that’s the case.”
The group filed testimony Monday in FPL’s $2.5 billion rate request pending before the Public Service Commission. The association said DeSantis and the Legislature have supported policies that could attract data centers, but the FPL rate proposal threatens to undermine that effort.
