Florida has a choice to make. We can lead the next version of infrastructure development, or watch as other countries and countries take advantage of artificial intelligence and hyperscale data centers that reinforce it. Expanding these emerging infrastructures puts a ceiling on our potential as Florida prepares to become a national and global powerhouse in the data-driven economy. We can affect our energy security, economic growth and national security.
AI is not a formula. It is the new way of using modern society. From how our military keeps us safe and secure, to how hospitals manage patient records and diagnoses, to how shipping terminals operate, banks detect fraud, and farmers raise crops, AI tools are already deployed in Florida every day.
None of this works without hyperscale data centers, which serve as the foundation of the digital world that keeps critical systems secure, responsive and competitive.
These devices can go beyond what meets the eye. What is often overlooked is how data centers do more than just consume energy; they can strengthen our grid, help diversify our energy system, and even reduce the financial burden on small businesses and residents.
Because data centers sign long-term energy contracts, committing to stable and predictable demand, they enable utilities to invest in new energy sources and increase energy production. Power additions add value over time and make our entire system more resilient. As a result, the digital technologies that power our economy can also serve as a pathway to a sustainable future.
Economic growth cannot be overstated; data centers are powerful economic engines that can catalyze long-term development in our region’s communities. A recent economic analysis found that a single-gigawatt data center in Florida could create more than 45,000 construction jobs, more than 5,000 permanent high-wage jobs in IT, engineering and operations, and create $2.6 billion in annual economic impact.
Also, the introduction of a one-gigawatt data center would provide more than $400 million in recurring state and local tax revenue. Those dollars help schools, first responders and roads without straining infrastructure.
Florida is the fifteenth largest economy in the country and has always been a leader in innovation and industry. To continue to lead not only nationally but globally, our businesses must have access to high-quality data centers and a climate that encourages, not discourages, that investment.
Countries that adopt balanced energy portfolios and streamlined, predictable permits are winning new infrastructure, while forces layered on uncertainty and strict restrictions are seeing investment collapse or shifts elsewhere. If we tie our hands with excessive regulations, we risk leaving both the economy and the system to our competitors.
The situation is high. Our military needs a large amount of computing power to protect our country. Our healthcare system relies on secure, low-latency data processing to support clinical research, telehealth and patient care. Our state-of-the-art university system requires innovative research to secure Florida’s future talent. The next generation of business leaders deserve access to modern technology.
Our travel and hospitality companies rely on advanced analytics to optimize guest experiences and manage global operations in real time. Our aerospace leaders, from space providers to aircraft manufacturers, depend on high-performance computing and AI to create secure systems, monitor missions and analyze large streams of data from sensors and satellites. Financial services, international trading firms and freight forwarders within our ports and intermodal hubs use AI-powered tools to eliminate loads, transport routes, and identify risks faster than competitors around the world.
Florida has built its reputation on openness to business, entrepreneurship and forward thinking. In the age of AI, that reputation will be assessed by how we manage the data centers and digital infrastructure that will define the next generation of jobs and growth. If we hit the right balance now, we can strengthen our grid, expand career paths for Floridians, support our schools and first responders, and ensure our state leads into a data-driven future.
If we don’t, those opportunities – and the skills they enable – will simply go elsewhere
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Zach Colletti is the Executive Director of Conservatives for Clean Energy Florida. He previously served in the Florida Senate and has extensive campaign experience throughout the state.
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