MIDA Board member faces questions at Box Elder data center forum
A public forum was held in Box Elder County, Utah, regarding a proposed data center, marking the fourth such event organized by "Grow the Flow." A MIDA Board member and Clearfield Mayor addressed attendees, discussing the project's initial presentation by the Stratus Group. Residents voiced strong opposition and concerns about accountability, with one individual leading a rally to stop the development.
The fourth public forum on a proposed data center in Box Elder County, Utah, was held, sponsored by the group "Grow the Flow." Clearfield Mayor and MIDA (Military Installation Development Authority) Board member, Mark Shepherd, was the featured speaker. Shepherd detailed the initial presentation of the project to MIDA by the Stratus Group, stating that MIDA was interested in a large data center for a 65-square-mile piece of property.
However, community members voiced significant dissatisfaction. Williams, who initiated a rally to halt the data center, highlighted a perceived lack of accountability and transparency from the project's inception. She claimed data centers are historically known for "overpromising and under-delivering." Daniels echoed this sentiment, lamenting that the project's first public announcement came via a "Shark Tank blog" rather than official channels.
While some attendees expressed excitement about the presence of a MIDA representative, the overall impression from those interviewed was one of being "not overall impressed" and feeling that their questions were not adequately answered. The forum underscored ongoing community opposition and concerns regarding the project's development and transparency.