DATA CENTERS & AI INFRASTRUCTURE

Lead In Technology - Protect What Makes Florida, Florida

Florida should compete aggressively for artificial intelligence, data centers, technology investment and high-paying jobs. Frank wants those companies here. But he doesn’t believe Florida families should be asked to subsidize growth only to find themselves paying more for electricity, competing for water or footing the bill for infrastructure needed to support massive new developments. Frank’s position is simple: Florida should welcome innovation – but public incentives must produce measurable public benefits.

Bring the Technology. Bring the Jobs. Bring the Investment.

Data centers are becoming increasingly important to artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, communications and the broader digital economy. They can bring significant investment and economic opportunity to Florida. But large-scale projects can also create significant demands on electricity, water, land and local infrastructure. Frank doesn't believe Florida has to choose between those two realities. We can lead in AI and still protect what makes Florida, Florida.

The Florida Community Dividend

Frank's proposed Florida Community Dividend would establish statewide standards for major data center projects receiving state or local incentives. The principle behind it is straightforward: If the public helps make a project successful, the public should share in that success - in writing, in public and with enforcement.

Require Infrastructure Self-Sufficiency

Major data centers should demonstrate that their plans for power, water, backup generation and resilience will not undermine Florida's electric grid or unfairly shift infrastructure costs onto existing residents. Frank wants these questions answered before projects move forward - not after communities are left dealing with the consequences.

View Frank’s Property Insurance Reform Plan →

Guarantee Binding Community Benefits

If a company receives significant public incentives, the community should receive something concrete in return. Depending on local needs, agreements could include investments in: Schools, Workforce training, Local infrastructure, Parks and recreation, Public safety, Mitigation of costs created by the project

Put the Promises in Writing

Frank doesn't want vague promises about jobs or economic impact. Agreements should establish dollar amounts, timelines, local hiring or investment benchmarks and clear responsibility for delivering them. If taxpayers are putting something on the table, Frank believes they deserve to know exactly what they're getting back.

Make the Deals Public

Material incentive and community-benefit commitments should be publicly reported, with regular compliance disclosures and independent verification where appropriate. Floridians should be able to see: What was promised? What was delivered? And did taxpayers get what they paid for?

Enforce Accountability

A commitment isn't much of a commitment if nothing happens when it is broken. Companies that fail to deliver could face suspension or repayment of incentives, clawbacks or other remedies authorized by law.

End Pay-to-Play Development

Frank believes the rules should be the same whether a company has political connections or none at all. State policy should operate under transparent, consistent standards regardless of campaign contributions, lobbying relationships or access to elected officials.

Protect Florida’s Power, Water and Communities

Frank believes responsible data center policy has to look beyond economic-development incentives. Florida also needs serious planning around: Power and Grid Reliability - Make sure massive new electricity demand doesn't undermine reliability or unfairly increase costs for existing ratepayers. Water - Understand and plan for the water demands of large-scale facilities before development accelerates. Agriculture and Land - Consider how development, water use and land-use decisions affect Florida's agricultural communities. Infrastructure - Determine who pays for roads, utilities and other infrastructure required by major projects. Resilience and Emergency Operations - Make sure facilities have serious plans for backup generation, resilience and emergency operations. Cybersecurity - Recognize that infrastructure supporting AI and the digital economy also requires appropriate cybersecurity planning.

Listen First. Lead Second.

Frank has put an initial framework on the table. He doesn't pretend that means government has every answer. That's why his next step is bringing the people closest to these questions together - including technology and data center leaders, environmental and conservation experts, utilities, farmers and water experts, local officials, community leaders, universities, engineers and independent technical experts. And Frank doesn't just want people in the room who agree with him. He wants people with genuinely different perspectives sitting across from one another and answering: What did we get right? What did we get wrong? What are we missing? What should Florida be thinking about today before development accelerates further?

Build the Policy With the People Who Understand the Issue

Frank's approach is intentionally different. Put an initial framework on the table. Bring industry, environmental, technical and community voices together. Listen. Publish what we learned. Then make the policy better. Frank believes that's how government should approach complicated issues - listen to the people who actually understand them, make a decision and get to work.

The Test Is Simple

Frank wants Florida leading the AI economy. But success shouldn't be measured only by how many data centers get built or how much investment gets announced. Ask: Did we create good Florida jobs? Did we protect our power grid and water? Did existing residents avoid getting stuck with the bill? Did communities receive the benefits they were promised? And can taxpayers see the results? Frank believes Florida can be pro-innovation, pro-business and pro-accountability at the same time.

FRANK J. RUSSO

RACHEL RODRIGUEZ