Utah Governor Spencer Cox addresses opposition to Box Elder County data center

Utah Governor Spencer Cox publicly voiced his strong frustration with "NIMBY" (Not In My Backyard) opposition to new development, specifically addressing concerns related to a proposed large-scale data center in Box Elder County. Speaking at his monthly televised press conference at PBS Utah, Governor Cox stated that those "reflexively opposed to any type of change" are hindering the nation's progress and emphasized the need for decisions to be made after public feedback. He referenced the project, reportedly backed by businessman Kevin O'Leary, which could span 40,000 acres and recently faced "concerted opposition" from residents at a County Commission meeting, prompting a delay in a vote for its approval. The Governor highlighted the national "technological arms race" and the necessity for states to boost computational capacity, arguing that Utah cannot simply reject all new projects. He challenged common environmental criticisms against data centers, asserting that operations have improved, making claims about excessive water usage and environmental destruction largely untrue, especially for the Box Elder location. Cox described the site as "potentially ideal," noting it would take over existing private water rights, be located away from residential areas, and have access to a natural gas pipeline for power. Cox's comments are consistent with his growing impatience toward growth-related objections. Separately, he also discussed Utah's severe drought conditions, predicting an emergency declaration soon due to historically low snowpack and the urgent need to address the declining Great Salt Lake. Despite these water concerns, he maintained that the Box Elder County data center proposal, given its specific site characteristics, is a viable project.