Florida Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins weighed in on the state’s technology debate, calling on gubernatorial candidates to be realistic about AI data centers. Collins argued that political promises to completely ban data center developments are misleading voters and distracting from the critical work of protecting local communities, utility ratepayers, and natural resources.
Data Centers and Florida’s Future
Collins, who previously introduced the “Florida Strong Plan” during his own campaign, stated that the current political conversation has become overrun by campaign slogans instead of serious governing strategies. “Floridians deserve the truth,” Collins said. “Anybody can promise a ban. Anybody can throw out a slogan. The hard part is telling people what can actually be done to protect them. That’s called leadership.”
According to Collins, the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure across the United States is driven by national security interests, massive private investment, and a surging consumer demand for technology. Because of these factors, he noted, blocking the industry entirely is an unrealistic goal. “The data centers are coming,” Collins said. “The question isn’t whether they’re coming. The question is whether they come on Florida’s terms or somebody else’s.”
Collins targeted politicians who rely on blanket bans to generate quick support, warning that such short-term fixes will not hold up under legal scrutiny. “If your entire plan is a moratorium that gets challenged and thrown out, you’re right back where you started,” Collins said. “That’s what I call a BS bomb. It gets applause. It gets headlines. But it doesn’t solve the problem.”
A Balanced Approach
Rather than pursuing total bans, Collins advocated for the framework laid out in his Florida Strong Plan. The policy platform relies on five core pillars: reliable American energy, protecting Florida’s water and natural resources, protecting children and families, maintaining human accountability at every step, and ensuring transparent, verifiable data.
Collins emphasized that his approach does not give tech companies a free pass, but rather forces them to operate under strict state oversight to protect utility ratepayers and the environment. “I’m not for data centers everywhere,” Collins said. “I’m for balance. I’m for protecting Florida’s water. I’m for protecting local communities. I’m for making sure Florida families don’t get stuck paying the bill. If a company wants to build in Florida, they play by Florida’s rules.”
Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.
