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Gov. Ron DeSantis signs bill aimed at preventing data centers from raising utility bills for Floridians
Summary
Gov. Ron DeSantis and Commerce Secretary Alex Kelly celebrated passage of Senate Bill 484, which they said preserves local land-use authority, requires public review of water permits for data centers and prevents utilities from passing hyperscale data-center costs onto residents.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a bill-signing event in early May in Lakeland that he will sign Senate Bill 484, legislation designed to stop hyperscale data centers from shifting electricity and water costs to individual Floridians and to preserve local land-use control.
The governor said the law protects consumers by ensuring utilities cannot pass large-load costs to ratepayers and that local governments keep authority over comprehensive planning and development rules for large electricity users. "You should not pay one more red cent for electricity because of a hyperscale data center as an individual," he said.
Why it matters: DeSantis argued hyperscale data centers demand massive electricity and cooling water, produce few long-term local jobs once built, and have in some places received generous tax…
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