Utah governor on the 'rushed' data center project

Utah Governor Spencer Cox has publicly backed a proposed "hyperscale" data center in Box Elder County, Utah, a project anticipated to both generate and consume more power than the entire state currently uses. Cox dismissed criticisms that the project's approval process has been rushed, stating his frustration with lengthy approval timelines in the country. "We've let the people against virtually everything destroy our country, destroy our industrial base... because we can't build anything in this country anymore, and those days are over," he commented. He added that while he has been "pretty neutral on data centers," every state, including Utah, has an obligation to allow such facilities. The governor's remarks follow a week of intense public debate and just days after Box Elder County commissioners deferred their final approval decision until the following Monday. The project had already received initial endorsement from the state's Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA), which agreed to substantial tax limitations to attract the development to northern Utah. Cox emphasized that public feedback is being considered, but ultimately, decision-makers must act. He also noted the chosen site is suitable, being away from residential areas and adjacent to a natural gas pipeline for energy generation.