1. United States
2. Fla.
3. Letter

Stop trying to build AI centers in Florida, especially racist targeting of these infrastructures in poor black communities with absolutely no transparency to the public on these projects. Proposed projects in places like Polk County and Miami-Dade are expected to consume enormous amounts of electricity and water while offering relatively few long-term jobs in return. According to reporting on proposed hyperscale AI facilities, some projects could require power comparable to hundreds of thousands of homes, placing additional strain on Florida’s already vulnerable infrastructure. Residents and experts have also raised alarms about increased utility costs, water consumption, traffic, diesel generator pollution, and lack of transparency in the approval process. Communities in Miami-Dade, especially predominantly Black neighborhoods, have expressed frustration that these projects are moving forward without meaningful public awareness or consent. Even Florida Commerce Secretary Alex Kelly warned that one proposed AI data center posed “significant risks” to the state’s water resources, transportation systems, and energy capacity. Florida is already facing rising insurance costs, fragile ecosystems, water management challenges, and pressure on the electrical grid. We should not prioritize massive AI server campuses that could worsen these problems while primarily benefiting large tech corporations. Florida’s future should focus on resilient infrastructure, affordable utilities, environmental protection, and community well-being, not unchecked AI expansion.