Florida Senate candidate Angie Nixon called for a pause on new AI data centers until more research is done. She joked they should be built on Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate and floated financial benefits for affected communities.
Nixon did not explain how a benefit program would work, comparing the idea loosely to Alaska’s dividends. Alaska’s Permanent Fund invests mineral revenues, with investment earnings helping fund annual payments. Separately, Illinois lawmakers have proposed payments to host communities from some data centers receiving state tax incentives, while New York proposals include electricity-bill credits or energy improvements for nearby residents.
Nixon said she is not opposed to AI or technological innovation, but wants stronger guardrails on privacy, employment and data-center construction. The debate also includes concerns about data centers’ effects on electricity costs, water supplies and the environment.
