TALLAHASSEE, Fla. \u2013 Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took to social media to tout the state\u2019s latest law targeting data centers.<\/p>\n
That law \u2014 SB 484<\/a> \u2014 took effect over the summer, and it makes the following changes:<\/p>\n Power Costs: New agreements must ensure large data centers pay for their own cost of service, keeping power costs from getting passed to residential and small business customers.<\/p>\n Foreign Countries: Public electric utilities are forbidden from providing service to major data centers owned or controlled by foreign countries of concern<\/a>.<\/p>\n CUP Permits: Establishes a \u201cconsumptive use permit\u201d (CUP) for large-scale data centers.<\/p>\n Reclaimed Water: Water Management Districts and the DEP may require large-scale data centers to use some portion of reclaimed water as part of a CUP approval.<\/p>\n Non-Disclosure Rule: Agencies may not enter into non-disclosure agreements about potential data center development, which would restrict the agency from disclosing such information to the public.<\/p>\n Not Substations: Data centers that use exceptionally high volumes of power may not be considered an electric substation under state law<\/a>, which would otherwise give them special protections.<\/p>\n Beyond all these changes, the law also preserves local governments\u2019 authority over zoning, permitting and land use regulations. This power allows communities to set stricter standards or even deny projects.<\/p>\n [RELATED: Orange County weighs temporary moratorium on AI Data Center applications]<\/p>\n On Thursday, DeSantis \u2014 a vocal proponent of the legislation \u2014 responded to several other users on X while discussing the law.<\/p>\n Some critics of data centers point to the higher power usage employed by these centers, which could result in higher costs for nearby consumers. <\/p>\n DeSantis says the law prevents utility companies from doing so, even requiring that additional costs be borne by hyperscalers via a tariff from the relevant utility.<\/p>\n Not true. Utilities in FL have sought (unsuccessfully) to apply 20% of the added cost to individual ratepayers. Our recent law blocks such a proposal. https:\/\/t.co\/ycuYyhf5U5<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) October 1, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n \u201cHow about we don\u2019t let utilities pass on costs to consumers due to servicing hyperscalers so that the citizens have more resources to invest\/save\/spend as they see fit?\u201d he wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n