Proposed mega AI data center raises scientists' concern over water + heat

Dr. Robert Davies, a professor of physics at Utah State University, along with several colleagues, has expressed significant ecological concerns regarding a proposed mega AI data center slated for northwestern Box Elder County, Utah. The project, planned for approximately 40,000 acres, is initially projected to consume 3 gigawatts of power, escalating to 9 gigawatts—a scale Davies likens to New York City's power consumption. Scientists are particularly troubled by the substantial water requirements necessary for the power plant's operation, as well as the proposed closed-loop cooling system for the data center itself. Davies notes that it is unclear from the project's filings how the massive heat generated would be managed. If this thermal load is discharged into the aquifer, it would place enormous strain on a watershed and lake basin already facing a crisis. Patrick Belmont, a professor in watershed sciences, concurs, emphasizing that regardless of the cooling method, significant water consumption is inevitable. Both professors argue that the project's water demands could negate years of water conservation efforts by thousands of residents in the region. They conclude that, based on scientific analysis, the project appears to be a "very bad idea" due to its profound environmental implications, including a massive carbon footprint from power generation.