Protesters arrested during Utah County meeting on proposed data center rules
Three protesters were restrained or cited during a Utah County Planning Commission meeting where commissioners unanimously recommended new rules for data centers on unincorporated county land. The proposed ordinance would limit water use, require studies of noise, wells, traffic and grid impacts, and impose size and location restrictions; the Utah County Commission will decide whether to adopt it.
Three people protesting data center development were removed from a Utah County Planning Commission meeting in Provo, including activist Aspen Azalea, who was arrested after a physical confrontation with sheriff’s deputies. The Utah County Sheriff’s Office said Azalea struck a deputy while being removed; Azalea said she suffered jaw pain, a concussion and bruising. Activists disputed the police response and organized rallies calling for accountability.
The confrontation occurred after the planning commission unanimously recommended an ordinance regulating data centers on unincorporated county land. The proposal would cap cooling-water use, require well and environmental impact studies, regulate closed-loop system refills, assess low-frequency noise and traffic, and require developers to pay for necessary power-system upgrades without shifting costs to other utility customers. It would also limit project size and location, expand public notice, and allow development agreements. The Utah County Commission will make the final decision at a later meeting.