Utah leaders criticized for data center water usage amid residential conservation demands
A letter to the editor criticizes Utah leaders for permitting data centers to use hundreds of thousands of gallons of water daily while urging residents to conserve. The author argues this policy undermines statewide water-saving efforts and will negatively impact Utah's environment.
Ali McKelvy of the University of Utah has submitted a letter to the editor, criticizing Utah's political leadership for what she perceives as a contradictory stance on water conservation. She highlights that while state legislators and the governor are enforcing strict outdoor watering restrictions on residents, they are simultaneously granting licenses to data centers that consume immense quantities of water daily.
McKelvy points to specific examples, naming the Stratos Data Center and the new Tooele Data Center, which she claims will "suck up all the available water they can." She argues that these facilities are permitted to use "hundreds of thousands of gallons of water a day" at a time when Utahns are struggling to keep their lawns and trees alive under tight restrictions.
The author asserts that if the state were truly committed to saving water, it would not be offering such valuable resources to new businesses. She warns that this approach will lead to a "dying desert," diminishing Utah's natural greenery and changing its character.