Box Elder County approved the largest data center in the country. Now what?

The Box Elder County Commission has unanimously approved the MIDA Stratos Project, a controversial plan for a 40,000-acre data center in Hansel Valley, Utah, which is projected to become the largest single data center campus in the U.S. The approval, which came after a contentious public meeting with hundreds of protesting residents, provides consent for the Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA) to begin construction of the estimated $1 billion project. Opponents raised concerns about the project's potential strain on water resources, with large data centers capable of consuming millions of gallons daily, and its projected consumption of 9 gigawatts of power, significantly more than the current largest US data center. Environmentalists and US Congress candidate January Walker also voiced fears about the impact on local wildlife, such as bees, due to electromagnetic fields. Commissioner Tyler Vincent, however, stated the data center would not raise electricity prices as it plans to produce its own power near a natural gas pipeline. In response to public outcry, the County Commission negotiated several guardrail provisions, including a 55-decibel noise limit, height restrictions, dark sky compliance, and agricultural use consent in the surrounding area. Despite the approval, which passed 26-11, protestors remained at the fairgrounds, condemning the decision and calling for further organization. MIDA still needs to submit applications for air quality, drinking water, and water quality permits to the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, which will be subject to public comment periods.