New Utah law raises concerns for those who oppose Box Elder County data center plans

A recently enacted Utah law, HB60, intended to expedite water leases for the Great Salt Lake, is drawing criticism from thousands of residents opposing a hyperscale data center known as 'Project Stratos' in Box Elder County. The law's provision, which prevents state engineers from considering 'detriment to public welfare' during water rights transfers, could significantly limit the arguments available to opponents. Residents like Tameron Williams and Farrah Pliley from Brigham City and Tremonton, respectively, had previously submitted protests against the developer's water rights application. These protests were dismissed when O'Leary Digital, the project's developer, withdrew its application. However, opponents are resolute in their intent to resubmit their protests once the new application is filed, despite the new legal constraints. Governor Spencer Cox has acknowledged the public's concerns regarding water, air quality, energy, and land use. He has requested that O'Leary Digital publish a publicly available water plan demonstrating that the project will not degrade the Great Salt Lake, ensuring all water use is publicly reported and does not reduce water flow to the lake.