Gov. Cox signs order creating 'higher bar' for data centers
Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed an executive order establishing a statewide framework to evaluate large data centers. The order creates a "higher bar" for future data center development, addressing public concerns about environmental impact and utility costs. It may affect projects like the proposed Stratos Project in Box Elder County.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed Executive Order 2026-03, establishing a statewide framework for evaluating large data centers and setting a "higher bar" for future developments. The order was prompted by public concerns regarding the potential impacts of data centers on water resources, air quality, utility rates, local communities, and quality of life, specifically citing the proposed Stratos Project in Box Elder County.
The framework directs state agencies to prioritize protecting the Great Salt Lake and other water resources, safeguarding air quality, promoting economic growth in rural Utah, mitigating wildlife impacts, protecting utility ratepayers, and supporting energy infrastructure. It also mandates transparent public comment opportunities and requires that any unused water from future projects be directed to the Great Salt Lake.
Governor Cox indicated that the executive order could potentially delay projects, including the Stratos Project. He clarified that previous approvals by the Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA) were solely for land-use issues and did not encompass environmental permitting. Box Elder County officials are reviewing the order, reaffirming that the county has not approved or permitted the construction of a data center, and their prior actions were limited to consenting to land inclusion within the MIDA project area and establishing interlocal agreements for local protections and future review procedures.