Water rights request withdrawn by group planning massive data center in Box Elder County

Bar H Ranch, the entity behind a proposed 40,000-acre data center in Box Elder County, Utah, has formally withdrawn its water rights application. In a letter to the Utah State Engineer's Office, Bar H Ranch requested that processing on the application cease immediately, a request that was confirmed and led to the application's cancellation. The withdrawal does not, however, halt the larger data center development. Earlier in the week, Box Elder County commissioners voted to approve the extensive project despite considerable public opposition. Hundreds of residents attended a county fairgrounds meeting, expressing concerns about the project's potential impact on water resources, air quality, and the local power grid. While opponents worry about the strain on natural resources and changes to the rural community, developers have emphasized the project's potential to generate jobs, tax revenue, and infrastructure investment. Bar H Ranch also retains the option to file new water rights applications in the future.