Utah Rep. Jason Thompson seeks to turn back the clock on MIDA project authority
Utah Rep. Jason Thompson is proposing legislation to significantly curtail the Military Installation Development Authority's (MIDA) power, limiting its land-use authority to projects directly tied to military installations and specifically excluding data centers. This legislative effort stems from intense public opposition to MIDA's controversial Stratos Data Center Project in Box Elder County, which led to incumbent officials losing their re-election bids. The proposed reforms aim to realign MIDA with its original mission of supporting military readiness.
Utah Rep. Jason Thompson is seeking to roll back the authority of the Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA) through proposed legislation. Created in 2007 to support Utah's military missions, MIDA's charter has expanded over the years to include developments primarily focused on generating tax revenue, such as a 235-acre data center at Camp Williams and a 525-acre aerospace research park at Hill Air Force Base.
The catalyst for Thompson's legislative push is the widespread public opposition to the Stratos Data Center Project, a proposed 40,000-acre hyperscale data center by O
R+Leary Digital and MIDA in the remote Hansel Valley of Box Elder County. Following furious public outcry, which included a gathering of 600 opponents, incumbent Box Elder County Commissioners Boyd Bingham and Lee Perry lost their re-election bids after forging ahead with the project. Utah Senate President Stuart Adams also lost his primary election, and Dan Hemmert was appointed as MIDA's new executive director, replacing Paul Morris.
Thompson's proposed legislation would restrict MIDA's land-use authority to projects located within five miles of a military installation and directly related to military training, operational readiness, or facility security. It specifically aims to disqualify recreational developments and AI data center projects unless the land and facilities are entirely federal government owned. Thompson, elected in 2024, is currently seeking re-election against environmental activist Patrick Belmont.