Utah attorney urges water safeguards for proposed data center projects
An opinion article argues that Utah should require data center developers to prove they have secured sufficient water before receiving permits or zoning approvals. It highlights Creekstone Energy's proposed 10-gigawatt campus near Delta and opposition to the Stratos project in Box Elder County, warning that large data centers could worsen the state's water scarcity.
Attorney James H. Tily argues that Utah should treat land and water as resources held in trust for future generations. He calls for a "no water, no permit" rule requiring developers to publicly document purchased water rights and projected consumption before counties rezone land or the state grants incentives.
The commentary focuses on Creekstone Energy's proposed data center campus near Delta, where Millard County rezoned more than 1,100 acres of farmland for a development planned at more than 10 gigawatts. It also cites nearly 3,900 protests against the Stratos project in Box Elder County and warns that data center and power-plant cooling demands could consume substantial volumes of water in a state facing depleted rivers, reservoirs and the Great Salt Lake.