Utah has an 'obligation' to allow massive data center project, governor says

Utah Governor Spencer Cox affirmed his support for a proposed "hyperscale" data center project in Box Elder County, a development anticipated to consume and generate a significant amount of electricity. Speaking at a news conference on April 30, 2026, Cox framed the project as a national security imperative, stating that every state has an "obligation" to allow such facilities to be built to keep pace with advancements in machine learning and artificial intelligence, and to prevent adversarial nations from gaining a technological advantage. The Governor addressed public concerns, dismissing what he called "bad information" regarding data centers' water usage and environmental impact. He asserted that the Box Elder County location has available water that would be repurposed, not drawn from the Great Salt Lake, and that the project must meet existing air quality standards. Cox highlighted Utah's approach to power, noting that data center companies are required to build their own power supplies, which he believes will ultimately benefit the state's grid and keep power rates lower. Responding to claims that the project is being rushed, Cox defended the process, stating that the Utah Inland Port Authority (MIDA) has a established process for hearings and public feedback. He expressed frustration with the slow pace of development in the country, emphasizing that decisions need to be made after feedback is received. He reiterated that the site, located near a natural gas pipeline and not in a residential area, is suitable for such a development.