James Fishback pledges to block AI data centers in Florida

Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate James Fishback has pledged to block the construction of all AI data centers in the state if elected. Fishback cited rising electricity bills as a primary concern for residents.

A June 2026 MIT-affiliated study indicated that electricity prices increased by approximately 2.1% for residents and 2.7% overall when data centers entered utility service areas. While Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed SB 484 in May 2026 to prevent utilities from passing data center costs to residential and small-business customers, opposition to these facilities remains high.

Public sentiment reflects significant concern regarding data centers. A Gallup survey found that 71% of respondents oppose construction in their areas, with opposition crossing partisan lines. Other reported concerns include noise pollution, excessive water usage, and environmental impacts. For example, data from the Houston Advanced Research Center showed that data centers in Texas used 49 billion gallons of water in 2025.