‘You’re saying no to tax revenue’: Defenders of data centers emerge

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV/Gray Florida Capital Bureau) - Turn on the World Cup and you just might see a commercial that explains the benefits of data centers, and why they’re misunderstood.

This week, the Taxpayer Protection Alliance joined the debate, putting out a “fact sheet” about why data centers actually could be a benefit to Florida counties, especially rural ones. After becoming a bipartisan punching bag, data center defenders are coming out to share their side.

“When you enact a restriction or a moratorium, you’re saying no to tax revenue, you’re saying no to jobs, you’re saying no to six-figure blue collar salaries.” said Ross Marchand, the executive director of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance.

Data center moratoriums, while prevalent, are also no longer guaranteed. Earlier this year, Florida’s capital city, Tallahassee, rejected a moratorium.

“Data centers are the backbone of the digital economy,” Marchand said.

Just two days ago, Jackson County issued a ban on data centers. Leon County is also mulling over the possibility after a one-year pause was proposed by the county chairman.

“A recent city agenda item looking at creating new basically solar farms to create more power supply, you know, it has been rumored that this is because they have been communicating with a data center, so I think it’s important that we slow that down a little bit,” Democratic Chairman Christian Caban said.

It’s not just Democrats calling out data centers, either. Republican Gubernatorial Candidate James Fishback has called for a ban.

Florida politics:

“As Governor, I’ll ban data centers in all 67 counties by preventing county commissions from approving them in the first place,” Fishback said on X. “It’s called “statewide pre-emption,” and I’ll get it done to protect our land, water supply, and electric bills from the threat of data centers.”

But Marchand argues data centers can actually be beneficial to rural Florida counties, especially those without a lot of tourism. He points out Florida already passed a law that prevents data center costs from being passed onto ratepayers, though he’s not sure how it will be defined.

“The biggest myths are that data centers are taking up all of the fresh water supply and also they’re guzzling inordinate amounts of energy and electricity,” he said. “Data centers are consuming a minuscule proportion of water and electricity.”

According to TPA’s one-sheet, Pasco County recently enacted a one-year moratorium, but only on “large-scale” projects. TPA says data centers made up 1.6% of all electricity consumption in Florida last year.

Marchand said data centers bring in maintenance and IT support jobs, though petitioners in DeSoto County say a data center there could bring in industrial harm, and a loud hum.

Company officials have said the project would not pressure neighbors, according to WWSB. DCIP Group CEO Jon Brown and DCIP Group chairman Wilson Trilha told Suncoast Searchlight they plan to use a closed-loop cooling system that would require less water than other large-scale projects.

“Change is hard, and we understand that,” Brown said in the previous coverage. “But in the end, I think this project is great for the community. I think it’s going to be good for the county.”

Marchand said the reality is that all utility customers are already subsidizing one another, regardless of who the end user is.

“But this legislation, I mean, it’s really just, it’s all about mandates and reporting compliance related burdens and that’s going to increase the cost of all internet related activities,” he said. “It’s going to make it difficult for data centers to take root in Florida and it’s going to mean less jobs and less tax revenue as a result.”