(ESCAMBIA COUNTY, F.L.) --- Concerns about a new utility-backed data center group were a large part of public comments at the August 6 Escambia County Board of County Commissioners meeting.
Speakers referred to Florida Power & Light’s (FPL) historic rate hike as a reason to question the alliance’s promises. The Florida Digital Infrastructure and Security Alliance formed in 2026 to advocate for data center development in Florida. Its founding board includes representatives from FPL, Duke Energy, and TECO Energy.
The group says it will work on reliability and security standards for digital projects. Brandy Johnson told commissioners residents had not forgotten FPL’s takeover of Gulf Power in January 2022.
(Photo: Florida Power & Light website)
“We were told our bills would go up 10 to 15 dollars,” Johnson said. “And that our bills would go down in four years, yet here we are four years later, and that still hasn’t happened,” Johnson said.
Johnson said the company had since implemented three additional rate increases. The most recent was approved in 2025.
“They (the FDIS) claim data centers are good and won’t increase our rates,” Johnson said. “We paid to upgrade that grid, and we did not do it for data centers."
Johnson also mentioned local economic development ties to the utility.
“A new position was created for FPL retiree Rick Byers as the head of economic development, and the head of the PEDC also came from FPL,” Johnson said.
Sarah Blankenship questioned the makeup of the alliance board.
(Photo: Florida Power & Light website)
“Their board includes members of FPL, Duke Energy, and TECO,” Blankenship said. “How are we supposed to trust that we are protected when the utility companies who already prey on us are trying to capitalize on us even more via AI data centers?”
FPL has faced criticism in recent years over political spending and regulatory ties. Campaign records show NextEra Energy, FPL’s parent company, gave $250,000 to a federal super PAC tied to Governor Ron DeSantis strategists about a month after the Public Service Commission approved a multi-year rate plan for FPL in 2025.
The concerns raised at the August 6 meeting follow a decade of FPL actions that residents have challenged. In 2016, the utility put more than $8 million into a ballot effort that solar advocates said was designed to limit rooftop solar.
(Photo: Florida Power & Light website)
In 2022, Northwest Florida customers saw bills rise past initial estimates after FPL took over Gulf Power, followed by three more approved increases.
Campaign filings show FPL and its parent company directed millions to state political committees, including donations to officials involved in appointing the regulators who set utility rates.
With the utility on the board of a new group promoting data centers, speakers questioned how past rate and spending decisions line up with the alliance’s goal of “responsible and secure digital infrastructure building” in Florida.
To add to or correct any information in this report, please get in touch with me at pepper.w@lead4earth.org.
(Thumbnail Photo: Florida Power & Light website)
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