Jacksonville is not currently considering a moratorium on data centers like other cities and counties in the state have imposed this year, but the city’s Mayor is nonetheless skeptical of the facilities.
Speaking during a radio interview Tuesday with WJCT, Mayor Donna Deegan said she needed to be convinced data centers would not be a “drag on the electric grid” and that they wouldn’t “consume natural resources like water that we just can’t afford to lose.”
“Until the community and the folks in Jacksonville can be convinced that this was a good thing, I just don’t think it’s a place we’d want to go. I think it’s always important to remain open-minded (regarding) new technology, but right now, I don’t think that is a place that we can stand and say, this is something that is good for our community.”
Local governments are moving in that direction.
Some jurisdictions, such as Wakulla and Walton counties, have permanently banned data centers.
In Northeast Florida, Clay and Nassau counties have imposed one-year moratoriums, along with Citrus, Hernando and Lake counties. Pasco County commissioners are set to take a final vote on a moratorium of their own Tuesday.
Still other counties are considering bans on new facilities.
Data centers are known to drain resources, including potable water and electricity, while creating noise pollution and other adverse environmental impacts. And it isn’t just a local issue. Tallahassee has also offered guidance.
SB 484 cleared this year, giving local governments the power to plan and pass land development regulations on data centers. Under the measure, data centers must cover their own utility services costs and infrastructure expenses instead of passing them on to Florida consumers.
The centers may be required to use some reclaimed water instead of surface or ground water “if reclaimed water is environmentally, economically, and technically feasible.”
Commerce Secretary Alex Kelly argued during the bill signing that while the companies “come to towns, cities, counties with a big shiny economic development object … there’s a lot of catches.”
The 2026 election cycle has been marked by robust debate about the future of data centers.
Backed in part by the AI industry itself, Republican gubernatorial front-runner Byron Donalds has argued the technology is improving to where it will be less of a drag on electrical and water resources. He is skeptical about moratoriums and has suggested domestic opposition is animated by Chinese propaganda.
Opponents have attacked Donalds on his position, with some candidates, such as James Fishback and Paul Renner, advocating for statewide bans.