Florida energy and electricity

Source topic or question: The Florida Cabinet, acting as the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, manages over 12 million acres of public lands. What is your philosophy on conservation, acquisition, and protection of natural resources, including Florida Forever projects, state parks, and coastal areas? El Gabinete de Florida, actuando como Junta de Fideicomisarios del Internal Improvement Trust Fund, administra más de 12 millones de acres de tierras públicas. ¿Cuál es su filosofía sobre la conservación, adquisición y protección de los recursos naturales, incluyendo proyectos de Florida Forever, parques estatales y zonas costeras?

Candidate questionnaire response

My philosophy is to fiercely protect Florida’s public and rural lands and agricultural heritage from overdevelopment. Left in their natural state, our lands keep an immense amount of climate pollution out of the atmosphere. FL loses an equivalent of 10 acres of natural and working lands every hour to development, and with them, the invaluable natural goods and services they provide. I also want to stop the rapid, unregulated sprawl of hyperscale AI data centers across Florida. AI data centers drive up electricity demand and costs, and strain water supplies from the Floridan aquifer: a single large data center can consume as much electricity as a small city. Working to ensure that recently enacted legislation prohibiting utility companies from passing the costs of AI grid upgrades onto consumers is actually enforced will be critical, however, massive developments in rural areas would still continue to threaten local habitats and natural resources.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 15, 2026

Source topic or question: What actions can be taken to protect Florida's environment, water quality and coastlines from pollution, overdevelopment and climate change? ¿Qué acciones pueden tomarse para proteger el medio ambiente de Florida, la calidad del agua y las costas frente a la contaminación, el desarrollo excesivo y el cambio climático?

Candidate questionnaire response

Florida’s environment continues to face serious threats from corporations that prioritize short‑term profit over long‑term sustainability. As governor, I will halt state data‑center construction projects, which have been shown to damage groundwater, worsen air quality, and increase asthma‑related deaths. Our natural waterways must be restored and protected to ensure safe drinking water for Floridians and for the regions beyond our borders that rely on our water systems. The state can create public dashboards to track water quality and carbon emissions, expand cost‑share programs that help farms reduce chemical runoff, and establish a Florida Sustainable Agriculture Transition Fund to support small farmers shifting to sustainable practices. Overdevelopment and urban encroachment also threaten our ecosystems, which is why all affordable housing projects must be designed with climate resilience in mind.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 15, 2026

Source topic or question: What actions can be taken to protect Florida's environment, water quality and coastlines from pollution, overdevelopment and climate change? ¿Qué acciones pueden tomarse para proteger el medio ambiente de Florida, la calidad del agua y las costas frente a la contaminación, el desarrollo excesivo y el cambio climático?

Candidate questionnaire response

Florida's future is inextricably tied to our natural resources, and I've championed these issues in the Legislature (PFAS monitoring, data center transparency, renewable energy goals, water management system evaluation to improve flood protection and long-term resiliency, carbon farming tax credit). Our beaches, springs, and waterways power tourism, fishing, agriculture, and property values. We can enforce clean water standards and hold polluters accountable for the nutrient runoff feeding toxic blue-green algae and red tide; continue Everglades and springs restoration; disincentivize overdevelopment of wetlands and aquifer recharge areas that absorb floodwaters; and invest in climate-resilient infrastructure (which along with clean energy, lowers utility bills–e.g. studies show every dollar invested in mitigation saves roughly six in disaster recovery, and resilient communities pay lower insurance premiums). In addition, I'd partner with Native tribes on environmental stewardship.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 15, 2026

Source topic or question: Environment

Candidate questionnaire response

My administration will bring these citizens and experts together and empower them to drive the mission of protecting our Everglades, water, land, coastlines, and natural habitats from pollution, overdevelopment, and climate change.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 15, 2026

Source topic or question: Florida Forward: A New Era of Leadership and Opportunity

Candidate campaign source

Addressing climate change and the environment will be a top priority for my administration as our environment needs to be cleaned up and reinvigorated. I will make sure to take care of our unique ecosystem and address corporate greed that has destroyed our environment.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 15, 2026

Source topic or question: What actions can be taken to protect Florida's environment, water quality and coastlines from pollution, overdevelopment and climate change? ¿Qué acciones pueden tomarse para proteger el medio ambiente de Florida, la calidad del agua y las costas frente a la contaminación, el desarrollo excesivo y el cambio climático?

Candidate questionnaire response

Florida's environment is one of our greatest assets. Our beaches, springs, wetlands, rivers, and coastlines support tourism, recreation, agriculture, and local communities. Protecting them requires stronger stewardship and long-term planning. Florida must accept the science of climate change and invest in resilience against sea level rise, stronger storms, flooding, and saltwater intrusion. Building resilient infrastructure today will protect communities and save taxpayers money in the future. I support stronger enforcement against polluters, investments in wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and accelerated restoration of the Everglades, springs, rivers, and estuaries. We must reduce harmful algal blooms and ensure clean water for future generations. We also need smart growth policies that protect wetlands, beaches, state parks, and environmentally sensitive lands from overdevelopment.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 15, 2026