Computer data center by MikeMareen via iStock for WMNF News.
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As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly popular, so does the demand to build data centers.
A new report from an environmental group laying out the potential impacts of data centers on Florida communities.
Environmental group 1000 Friends of Florida published the report, titled “Potential Impacts of Data Center Development on Florida Communities.”
It highlights the potential effects, including the vast amount of energy they use, their water use, and quality of life concerns like noise that come from the centers.
Haley Busch is the Communications and Outreach Director for 1000 Friends of Florida.
She says impacts vary from Florida’s rural and urban cities.
“Local planners, local government, they’re the ones that should be leading in terms of where these things are sited, where they should go,” Busch told WMNF.
This comes as lawmakers discuss regulating data centers in Florida.
Senate Bill 484, a bill that would provide restrictions on the data centers, is currently moving through committees – a bill Busch says “asks good questions” about data centers.
“It would regulate those large-scale data centers by reinforcing the local land use control, which we like to see. We’d like to see, you know, the acknowledgement that local governments in their comprehensive planning process should be where the decisions are made.” Busch said.