Howell Residents Express Concerns Over Proposed Data Center Project in Box Elder County
Residents in Howell, Box Elder County, Utah, are expressing strong concerns over a proposed data center and power plant project by O'Leary Digital. Locals worry about the environmental impact, particularly on water resources and Sage Grouse, and criticize the lack of transparency and the project's fast-tracking on unzoned land. The project is awaiting a decision from the Box Elder County Commission.
Residents of Howell, a small agricultural community in Box Elder County, Utah, are voicing significant concerns regarding a proposed large-scale data center and associated power plant development by O'Leary Digital. Local homeowners, including Travis Johnson, Neil Thompson, and Arthur Douglas, have expressed worries about the rapid pace of the project's progression without adequate public information or transparency from the developers.
Key environmental concerns include potential impacts on local water resources, such as the Bear River and the Great Salt Lake, especially given the developer's plan to filter and utilize brackish water. Residents also fear the construction's effect on protected wildlife, specifically a nearby Sage Grouse lek. Douglas highlighted frustration over the lack of notification and public engagement, noting that the proposed site is currently unzoned and the project was brought before the Box Elder County Commission with seemingly short notice.