Utah official supports referendum on Box Elder County data center plans amid legal challenge
A public forum was held in Box Elder County, Utah, on a controversial data center project, with a MIDA board member stating residents' wishes should be honored if a ballot question proceeds. Opponents have filed a lawsuit to overturn the county's rejection of their petition for a referendum, citing environmental and water concerns. The "Stratos Project Area plans" have been approved by MIDA and county resolutions, but are now facing significant public and legal challenges.
A public forum in Brigham City, Box Elder County, Utah, addressed the contentious Box Elder County data center proposal, known as the "Stratos Project Area plans." Mark Shepherd, a member of Utah's Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA) which previously approved the plans, voiced personal support for honoring residents' wishes if a ballot question to halt the project makes it to the ballot.
Opposition groups, including Box Elder Accountability Referendum (BEAR) and Grow the Flow, organized the forum and have expressed significant concerns about the project's potential environmental impact, particularly on the Great Salt Lake's underground water supplies. Critics also point to a lack of economic impact, water use, and environmental impact studies. Residents previously filed a petition for a ballot question to reverse two Box Elder County Commission resolutions key to the project, but county officials rejected the effort. This has led residents to file a lawsuit in 1st District Court in Brigham City to challenge the county's decision.
While MIDA and the County Commission have approved resolutions and tax ordinances advancing the project, Shepherd noted that no public opposition was voiced during MIDA's initial considerations, a fact he now finds surprising given the widespread community pushback. The project, spearheaded by Canadian businessman Kevin O'Leary, involves a 20,000-acre development in Hansel Valley with up to 9.5 gigawatts of power capacity, touted by supporters for its economic and national security benefits.