Former Republican candidate and investment firm CEO James Fishback called on Gov.-elect Byron Donalds Thursday to oppose a proposed data center in Polk County.

In a letter, Fishback asked Donalds to tell the Auburndale City Commission that he opposes the data center, known as the Auburndale Technology Center, and to commit to using his full statutory and regulatory authority to stop it once he becomes governor.

The letter came after recent comments from Donalds in which he said local communities will have the final say on data center development in their areas.

City officials are moving forward with the plans despite pushback from hundreds of residents.

Over 500 residents attended a public workshop this week to oppose the data center development, Fishback said.

“Residents are concerned because at full build-out the data center would consume as much electricity as up to 500,000 homes, in a city of just 22,000 people,” Fishback wrote. “They are also concerned about how close it would sit to their homes and schools. Within one mile of the site there are more than 100 homes, along with Berkley Charter School and Berkley Accelerated Middle School, which together serve ~1,300 students. Noise from the data center’s 24/7 operations would disrupt classrooms during the day, keep families up at night, and permanently alter the quality of life in Auburndale.”

Donalds’ team did not immediately respond to The Center Square’s request for a comment.

The proposed data center would use a closed-loop water cooling system to use “much less” water, according to the project’s website. It would pay 100% of its electricity costs and bring $461 million in positive economic impact to the region, the website says.

After Tuesday’s packed meeting, Auburndale Vice Mayor Jordan Helms said the data center went from initial concept to permit applications faster than he’d ever seen in other projects – just 45 days. He said the process usually is “long and arduous.”

Helms said he recognized the city may need to revisit its land use regulations to address data center concerns but that Senate Bill 180, which was signed into law last year, restricts the city from changing its land use regulations until October 2027.

The bill was meant to apply to counties affected by Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton and prevent covered areas from making their land use regulations more restrictive in the specified time period.

“I am neither for, nor against data centers,” said Helms. “They are a part of our lives due to the decisions our society has made and the primary way we interact. I also believe there are technologies, engineering principles, and locations that can make them ‘better,’ and there are also economic calculations that lead some towards worse outcomes.”