Utah data center companies address community concerns
Residents in West Jordan, Utah, are experiencing significant noise issues from an Aligned Data Centers facility, despite the company's claims of compliance with local guidelines. Meanwhile, DataBank, another operator in the Salt Lake Valley, highlights its commitment to efficiency in water usage and noise reduction, along with supporting power grid infrastructure.
Residents living near Aligned Data Centers' 55-acre campus in West Jordan, Utah, are voicing significant concerns over noise pollution, which they describe as comparable to 10 lawn mowers operating simultaneously or a vacuum cleaner. Tracy Bell and Teresa Sorensen, local residents, report that the noise, primarily from backup generators used during compliance testing or grid emergencies, is impacting their quality of life and property values. A KSL decibel meter recorded 70 decibels near the center.
Aligned Data Centers stated they operate in compliance with state and local guidelines and encourage community engagement to address issues. Separately, Joe Minarik, COO of DataBank, showcased his company's efforts to be "good citizens" in the Salt Lake Valley. DataBank utilizes closed-loop cooling systems, significantly reducing water consumption to a fraction of what a single golf course uses. Minarik also emphasized their investments in sound attenuation for generators and cooling systems to meet local noise ordinances. DataBank also expressed support for infrastructure development and fair contributions to address power grid challenges as data centers continue to expand, particularly with the growth of AI.