Hundreds pack Iron County hearing as residents voice concerns over proposed AI data center

Over 350 residents of Iron County, Utah packed a public hearing held by the Iron County Planning Commission to weigh in on a proposed artificial intelligence data center that could become one of the largest industrial projects in the region. The data center is being developed by tech companies like Anthropic, OpenAI, and xAI. Residents expressed a range of concerns, including the project's potential environmental impact and strain on local infrastructure. The planning commission will now consider the public feedback as they evaluate the data center proposal. Opposition to the project appears to be strong, with residents mobilizing to attend the hearing in large numbers to voice their opposition. The outcome of the planning commission's decision will be closely watched in the community.