Utah State team launches data center initiative, initial survey shows most oppose them
Utah State University academics launched an initiative to study data center development and community attitudes across Utah. An initial survey of about 900 residents found that 75.4% would oppose a data center somewhere in the state, with water use, energy consumption, public participation and proximity to homes driving concern.
A team led by Utah State University professor Jessica Schad has launched the Data Center Development in Utah initiative through the university’s Community and Natural Resources Institute. The project will provide survey research, policy analyses and case studies as data center proposals emerge across the state, with future results planned for Cache, Box Elder and Millard counties.
The initiative’s first survey, based on responses from roughly 900 Utah residents, found that 75.4% would oppose a data center located somewhere in Utah and 86% would oppose one within three miles of their homes. Respondents identified water consumption, public participation, energy use, location and project scale as major considerations, while showing greater support for facilities using renewable energy or recycled and non-potable water.