How early did Utah’s governor know about the Box Elder data center plan?
Utah Governor Spencer Cox knew about a significant Box Elder data center proposal months before its initial approval. He later signed an executive order establishing a statewide framework for data center development, seemingly in response to public backlash regarding such projects.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox was reportedly aware of a substantial data center proposal in Box Elder County, Utah, months before its initial approval. This knowledge predates his executive order, signed on Friday, May 29, 2026, which established a statewide framework to standardize the evaluation and development process for large data center projects across Utah.
The executive order appears to be a response to public backlash that followed the initial approval of the Box Elder project, indicating a move towards higher standards for data center development within the state.