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Miami Commissioner Endorses DeSantis Data Center Rules as Florida Debate Intensifies

September 2, 2026 at 09:33 EDT

Policy & Regulation
Infra & Chips

Miami District 2 Commissioner Damian Pardo has endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ data-center regulations, adding a local voice to a widening fight over AI infrastructure, electricity and water.

2026 · FLORIDA POLICY

Florida puts guardrails around large AI data centers

Miami Commissioner Damian Pardo supports the rules as communities weigh local control, utility costs and water use.

Scale, before the debate gets local

>100

Data centers in Florida

~27

In the Miami area

50 MW+

Large-scale threshold

0.05–0.2%

Estimated water share for three Miami projects

Florida’s footprint is wider than Miami’s

Approximate data-center count; each full block represents roughly 10 centers.

~27

Miami area

>100

Florida

THE THRESHOLD

Big rules, smaller projects

SB 484 targets single sites drawing 50 MW or more. The three upcoming Miami-Dade projects are smaller and fall outside the law’s scope.

What supporters see

Local governments retain planning power, while large users pay their own utility costs and face water safeguards.

Where concern remains

Residents want clearer disclosure, and experts warn that clusters of smaller facilities could still pressure the grid.

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