Box Elder County Commission votes to allow controversial data center, despite massive outcry

The Box Elder County Commission granted conditional approval for a multi-million dollar data center project, despite a significant public outcry during a raucous meeting. Residents expressed strong opposition, largely focusing on concerns about water usage and the overall environmental impact of the proposed development. Consultants for the project, including Mita, stated that any data center would operate on a closed-loop system to address water concerns. Developers, specifically O'Leary Development, also promised a community committee, noise limits, and revenue generation, asking for these commitments to be put on paper. However, a detailed presentation on the 40,000-acre project was met with widespread boos, as residents highlighted that the proposed jobs and economic benefits seemed to be insufficient in light of their worries. Commissioners explained their decision, noting that the property was unzoned, which limited their control over development and influenced their vote. They unanimously provided conditional approval. A spokesperson for O'Leary Development indicated that a capital raising effort for the billion-dollar project is expected to conclude in a few days, with the first phase of construction beginning in a few months, following an environmental impact study. They acknowledged a lot of remaining concerns and misinformation, stating they would spend significant time addressing these issues. Commissioner Hill described the public communication process as a