Moratorium approved by commissioners for future data centers in Box Elder County
The Box Elder County Commission unanimously approved a six-month moratorium on new data centers and power plants in unincorporated areas. This pause aims to allow the county to develop comprehensive land-use regulations for data centers, a process prompted by public scrutiny over projects like the Stratos Project. Existing applications and the Stratos Project, which falls under MIDA jurisdiction, are not affected by the moratorium.
The Box Elder County Commission unanimously enacted a six-month moratorium on new data centers and associated power plants within the county's unincorporated areas. The decision, made on Wednesday night, provides a 180-day window to develop specific land-use regulations for the rapidly growing data center industry, which has faced significant public scrutiny in the region.
Commissioner Lee Perry stated the moratorium provides time to establish parameters for data center development, even on unzoned county property. The temporary halt affects new zone changes, land-use applications, building permits, and business licenses for data centers, though applications submitted prior to the moratorium's adoption remain unaffected.
County officials clarified that the Stratos Project data center, a focal point of recent controversy, is exempt from the moratorium. This is because the county transferred land-use authority for the project area to the Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA) in May, meaning MIDA now governs its land-use decisions. The county acknowledged that the Stratos Project highlighted deficiencies in the existing Land Use Management & Development Code regarding data centers.
Planning Director Scott Lyons indicated that future regulatory options could include a dedicated zoning classification or an overlay zone for data centers, along with review standards to mitigate potential community and environmental impacts. Following the vote, dozens of residents expressed concerns during public comment, linking the moratorium to the Stratos Project and highlighting issues such as water use, power consumption, and environmental impacts. While many supported the moratorium, some, like Bridgette Cottam of Brigham City, criticized it as being a reactive measure. Others, like Carolyn Lenzie of Honeyville, advocated for a longer moratorium and for amending the county's general plan to deem data centers incompatible with the rural character of Box Elder County.