Utah natural resources chief addresses water concerns about data center proposal

A proposed data center development in Box Elder County, Utah, is generating significant public opposition due to concerns about its potential water consumption and impact on the Great Salt Lake. Investor Kevin O'Leary, a proponent of the project, publicly addressed these criticisms in a social media post on X, formerly Twitter. O'Leary dismissed rumors that the project would deplete the Great Salt Lake as "ridiculous" and suggested that the data center could utilize air-cooling technology, which would require minimal to no water. State officials have confirmed that the project's initial water rights application has been withdrawn. This application, originally filed in March, sought to convert 1,900 acre-feet of agricultural water rights for industrial use by the data center. Officials explained that the project design has evolved since the initial filing, necessitating the refiling of a revised application. State engineers are mandated to ensure that any approved water use does not exceed the historical water consumption tied to the property, aiming for a net-zero impact on the Great Salt Lake. Additionally, state leaders emphasized that the project must undergo multiple stages of environmental review, including public comment periods and hearings, before construction can proceed. The governor also stipulated that the project must employ environmentally safe cooling technology and report its water usage.