Utah auditor creates dashboard on agency behind data center project
The Utah Office of the State Auditor created a new public dashboard about the Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA) and its Stratos Project data center developments, in response to public inquiries and whistleblower complaints. Meanwhile, Box Elder County officials rejected three applications for data center referendums, determining the commission's approvals were administrative actions not subject to referendum.
The Utah Office of the State Auditor has launched a new public dashboard dedicated to the Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA), the agency overseeing the Stratos Project data center development. State Auditor Tina Cannon explained that the dashboard was developed in response to a surge of public inquiries and whistleblower complaints regarding MIDA's operations and powers. She noted that existing information on the Transparent Utah website was insufficient to address the questions being received.
The dashboard, accessible on transparent.utah.gov, compiles publicly available documents, legislative changes, project history since MIDA's 2007 creation, board member information, and financials. Brenna Williams, who led a referendum effort against the Box Elder County Commission's decision to advance the data center project, expressed skepticism, calling the dashboard a "CYA maneuver" rather than a truthful initiative.
Separately, Box Elder County officials rejected three applications aiming to place data center referendums before voters. County attorneys concluded that the commission's project approvals were administrative actions, not laws, and therefore could not be challenged through a referendum. The applications were denied after a review of their legality and fiscal impact, a decision county leaders stated was in accordance with state law.