Maloy, Udell offer competing visions for Utah’s sprawling new 3rd District in St. George debate
In a debate at Utah Tech University in St. George, congressional candidates Celeste Maloy and Kent Udell offered opposing views on Utah’s data center growth. Udell called for a suspension of new data centers, citing infrastructure, water and public input concerns, while Maloy said states and local governments should set data center policies and noted Utah requirements to protect other electricity customers.
Republican Rep. Celeste Maloy and Democratic challenger Kent Udell debated data center development during a campaign forum for Utah’s newly drawn 3rd Congressional District at Utah Tech University in St. George. Udell called for a moratorium on new data centers, arguing that projects could strain roads, water supplies and other infrastructure and citing concerns about public input in Box Elder County.
Maloy opposed a federal approach, saying states and local governments should decide how to regulate data centers. She pointed to Utah legislation requiring data centers to protect existing energy customers and add power to the grid. The candidates also disagreed over nuclear power, water use and the broader energy needs associated with artificial intelligence.