Emery County Commissioners Debate Solar, Data Centers and EMS Funding

At its July 21 meeting, the Emery County Commission engaged in extensive discussions regarding data center regulations and a proposed 180-day moratorium on new data center applications. Resident Ashley Pruitt urged the pause to allow the county to revise its zoning ordinances, citing concerns about water use, chemical containment, noise, heat management, and utility ratepayer protections. She also questioned the proposed annexation of Valar Atomics’ property into Orangeville.

Commissioners clarified that the annexation was to facilitate municipal services for Valar's property, not to fast-track a data center, and noted no formal building application had yet been received. They concurred that the Planning and Zoning Commission should establish clear standards. Valar Atomics representatives, who were present, stated that their proposed Nvidia data center would use a low-water, closed-loop cooling system and that recently acquired water shares were for future, larger developments on their property, not for the Nvidia project itself. The commission did not vote on the moratorium or specific zoning changes but indicated ongoing work by the Planning and Zoning Commission to develop stricter requirements.