WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� Byron Donalds, a Republican congressman , on Monday announced legislation intended to prevent artificial intelligence data centers from driving up , the latest sign of a political backlash over the new technology.
The proposal, if passed by Congress, would require data centers to obtain all from private sources, rather than the power grid or public water systems. The idea aligns with an earlier, from President Donald Trump.
鈥淚f you talk to these guys who are building these data centers, if it means that they have to pick up the utility costs, they鈥檙e more than willing to do it,鈥� Donalds said in an interview with The Associated Press. 鈥淚t鈥檚 in their interest to make sure that we can construct these centers, and I think the number one way you address and mitigate the concerns that people are having is to just ensure their utility bills aren鈥檛 going up in the process.鈥�
Donalds’ proposal is noteworthy coming from backed by pro-AI political action committees and Trump. The legislation comes during a rapid nationwide buildout of data centers to match growing demand for artificial intelligence systems. Major technology firms at the heart of the AI boom have quickly become some of the world鈥檚 most valuable and watched companies, while the Trump administration has aligned itself with the industry鈥檚 major players.
Several major tech companies developing AI infrastructure have committed to agreements with the Trump administration to cover the expenses of building new power sources rather than shifting the burden to residential households. But given the expected increase in demand, it鈥檚 unclear if the voluntary agreement is legally enforceable.
The furious pace of construction and high stakes of the technology have raised . In Florida, more than 20 counties and municipalities have voted to reject the construction of major data centers, while others have banned their construction for at least a year. Residents and local leaders often cite concerns over increased utility bills, disruption of local communities and as major reasons for the pauses.
鈥淭hese companies have been a step behind and didn鈥檛 realize how quickly the ground was shifting under their feet,鈥� said Matt Gorman, a Republican strategist. Gorman said that progressive climate activists and conservative populists have both seized on the data center issue, requiring tech firms to 鈥渢ell a better story鈥� and address concerns from across the political spectrum.
鈥淭his is a full-court effort here,鈥� Gorman said. 鈥淚f you don鈥檛 tell that story, you鈥檙e going to have it mandated on you from lawmakers of both parties.鈥�
Donalds is running to succeed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a fellow Republican who in May signed legislation that required large-scale data centers to pay their own energy and water costs entirely. Donalds, should he be elected governor, said he鈥檇 focus on improving efficiency among data centers and moving the facilities away from population centers.
鈥淲e just want to make sure that if they do get built, they鈥檙e being built efficiently while protecting ratepayers and protecting Florida鈥檚 water,鈥� Donalds said. 鈥淭he real public policy question for the country and for states is how are we going to generate baseload power for future energy demands, whether it鈥檚 for hyperscale data centers or for anything else.鈥�
James Fishback, a far-right Republican candidate for governor, has made opposition to data centers a center of his primary challenge to Donalds. And David Jolly, a former congressman and the leading Democratic gubernatorial candidate, this month called for a moratorium on the construction of data centers.
Travis Fisher, a fellow at the Cato Institute, said public companies usually push for the best deals to access public utilities. He said any willingness to pick up a bigger tab for energy and water reflects the political pressure facing tech firms.
鈥淭hey are very afraid that they鈥檙e going to, I’d say, lose their social license to operate, as if they鈥檙e basically going to get run out of town or banned,鈥� said Fisher.
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