Data center dominates candidate forum in Utah Senate president's reelection bid
The proposed Stratos Data Center in Boxelder County, Utah, is dominating a Utah Senate primary race, with candidates debating the controversial project's impact, particularly on water usage. Public opposition to the data center is strong, influencing the stances of Senate President Stuart Adams and his challengers. Adams has recently softened his support and is pushing for project modifications.
A proposed Stratos Data Center in Boxelder County, Utah, has become a central and controversial issue in a high-profile Utah Senate primary election. The public has expressed strong opposition to the project, primarily due to concerns over water usage in northern Utah. The debate took center stage at a candidate forum in Sunset, Davis County.
Utah Senate President Stuart Adams, who is seeking re-election, is being challenged by fellow Republicans Braden Hess and Stephanie Hollist. Adams, also chair of the state's Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA), had previously supported the project, which is being advanced by businessman Kevin Olirri. However, Adams has recently softened his public stance, pushing the developer to reduce the project's size and implement other changes in response to public feedback.
Challenger Stephanie Hollist criticized the proposal, stating she would "start by not proposing the largest data center in the country." Braden Hess argued that the government should not treat data centers differently from other businesses, provided they do not harm society and resources in measurable ways. However, the audience at the forum largely viewed the data center as a "non-starter," expressing concerns it would "sap tax dollars away from residents, that's going to take water, that's going to endanger our way of life." The outcome of the Republican primary election next week is expected to reflect the significance of this data center issue.