A new bill that would strip the public of its right to know about the construction of data centers has been approved by the Florida Senate and is now heading to Governor Ron DeSantis for final approval. The proposal has angered many Floridians, who remain skeptical that the expansion of data centers will bring any real benefits to their communities.
Senate Bill 484 was passed in a 31-6 vote. If approved by the governor, the bill would remove the current prohibition on state agencies from signing nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) with companies seeking to develop and build data centers in Florida.
In short, this change could make future data center projects far more secretive, at least in the first stages of construction. However, the bill also states that companies must pay for their own utilities, ensuring that residents will not be burdened with the facilities’ water and electricity costs.
According to the Tallahassee Democrat, industry interest in AI and cloud storage centers has surged in recent months, with developers eyeing locations in Polk, Citrus, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie counties. Project Tango, a proposed development near West Palm Beach, has recently drawn significant attention and strong opposition from locals.
Florida Residents Slam New Data Center Bill
Despite safeguards against increases in water and electricity prices, the bill has sparked outrage among Floridians on social media, with some describing it as a “sick, disgusting bill.”
Many locals expressed disbelief that the measure would not affect their electricity bills, with one person asking, “Does anyone actually believe this [expletive] about residents not paying more for data center electricity and water usage?” Others added, “Ask people who live next to data centers how their monthly bills have skyrocketed,” while some warned that Floridians may have to “say goodbye to our water, electricity bills, and environment.”
Water availability also emerged as a major concern among residents. As one person put it, “Florida is already walking a very thin tightrope when it comes to freshwater availability.” They continued, “The Florida Aquifer is rapidly being drained due to years of unbridled housing growth. (…) With larger, new AI-focused data centers, water consumption is increasing alongside energy usage and carbon emissions.”
Others used the opportunity to criticize the AI industry, calling it a “market bubble” and warning that “nobody is thinking about what happens if the huge productivity gains don’t come.”
Many Floridians expressed frustration, voicing a cynical outlook on the future: “This is Florida, the public has no rights, and that seems to be how the majority of Floridians like it.” Another person added, “The only people that matter anymore are the billionaires and developers that the politicians work for.”
