Certarus Fuels Utah's Data Center Boom with Mobile Gas Hub

Certarus, a mobile energy solutions provider, has commissioned a new compressed natural gas (CNG) supply hub near Salt Lake City, Utah, to power a 60-megawatt hyperscale data center. This "virtual pipeline" solution allows the unnamed data center to commence operations quickly, bridging the gap until a permanent energy grid connection can be established. This development highlights the challenges faced by utilities like Rocky Mountain Power in meeting the escalating energy demands of AI and cloud computing facilities, which often require hundreds of megawatts of power. The rapid expansion of data centers in Utah, positioning the state as a major hub, has prompted legislative action. In 2025, Senate Bill 132 was enacted, modifying the utility's "duty to serve" and enabling large energy consumers, such as data centers, to procure their own power if the utility cannot fulfill demand within a 90-day timeframe. This regulatory change facilitates alternative energy strategies, exemplified by Certarus's approach, which enables project advancement years ahead of traditional grid availability. However, the proliferation of data centers, coupled with reliance on natural gas for power, has generated considerable public debate. The proposed 9-gigawatt Stratos Project in Box Elder County, for instance, faces significant opposition due to concerns over immense water consumption in a drought-stricken region and potential air quality degradation. Critics argue that while natural gas solutions accelerate data center deployment, they also contribute to fossil fuel dependency and emissions, complicating Utah's environmental goals amidst its economic growth. Certarus's new hub, while addressing an immediate power access issue for one facility, is part of this broader, contentious trend of using gas to enable rapid tech sector expansion.