Florida must seize the moment on data centers | Opinion

• Florida has the opportunity to become a hub for data centers, bringing significant economic benefits.
• Building data centers would create jobs, increase tax revenue, and boost property values.
• The recent tax bill extending sales tax exemptions for data centers encourages long-term investment in the industry.

Florida stands on the threshold of a digital infrastructure boom — but if we don’t act now, we risk missing a truly transformative opportunity.

How big is that opportunity? If a data center were built right here in the Big Bend region, it would instantly become the area’s largest taxpayer — and it wouldn’t even be close. For comparison: the Amazon Fulfillment Center along I-10 invested $250 million in capital improvements. A 600MW data center would represent more than 30 times that investment and bring a proportional surge in property value and tax revenue.

Data centers bring more than just servers. They deliver long-term capital investment, high-paying jobs, and a tax base that supports schools, infrastructure, and essential services. As demand for data, artificial intelligence, and cloud services accelerates, Florida has a chance to become a hub for these facilities. But that opportunity won’t realize itself. It requires foresight, leadership, and a coordinated commitment to smart growth.

The Florida legislature recently passed a tax bill that extends sales tax exemption for data centers for another 10 years. This week, Gov. Ron DeSantis sent a clear signal by signing that tax bill. That’s the kind of long-term commitment that encourages major investment.

As a former chair of the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC), I know how vital regulatory clarity is to attracting and securing business investment. The PSC’s leadership once helped pave the way for the expansion of broadband across Florida, especially in rural and underserved communities — unlocking access to remote work, virtual learning, telehealth, and new economic opportunities for families and small businesses. Data centers offer a similar moment — one that can drive innovation across industries like healthcare, education, agriculture, and finance.

But these facilities need reliable and affordable energy delivered cleanly and consistently.

The PSC is currently considering a rate case involving Florida Power & Light (FPL). The Office of Public Counsel has suggested delaying action on data center-related issues as part of that rate case. That would be a mistake and would directly undermine the efforts of the legislature and the governor to bring data centers to our state.

Thanks to major investments in grid modernization and reliability, Florida is well-positioned to support the next generation of digital infrastructure. As Florida’s largest energy producer, FPL leads in this regard. But we need to act — not stall.

The PSC has shown leadership in enabling innovation. Their actions have sent a clear message: Florida gets it. Our state’s pro-growth, pro-energy approach is paying off. We’re no longer seen only as a tourist capital — we’re being viewed as a rising tech capital. Other states and regions who have embraced this forward-thinking approach have generated robust tax revenues while attracting global technology companies and spurring local innovation.

But to maintain momentum, we must stay intentional. That means continuing to align public utility planning with statewide economic development goals. It means recognizing data centers not just as high-energy users, but as anchors for broader investment, job creation, and digital resilience.

Florida is open for digital business. With strong leadership from our utilities and the PSC, we are showing that it’s possible to be both business-friendly and consumer-conscious — exactly the kind of leadership our data-driven future demands.

Lila A. Jaber is a Tallahassee resident and previously served as the chair of the Florida Public Service Commission. She is the founder of Florida’s Women in Energy Leadership Forum.

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