Lawmaker seeks to limit MIDA after data center controversy
Utah House Representative Jason Thompson is drafting legislation to restrict the Military Installation Development Authority's (MIDA) power, arguing the agency overstepped its military-focused mission by approving the Stratos Project data center in Box Elder County. The proposed bill aims to limit MIDA projects to within five miles of military installations and ensure direct contributions to military operations. This legislative effort follows months of controversy surrounding the Stratos Project, which MIDA approved, citing its potential for energy resilience and national security benefits.
Utah House Representative Jason Thompson is developing new legislation aimed at significantly curtailing the authority of the state's Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA). Thompson contends that MIDA has expanded beyond its original mission, particularly highlighted by its recent involvement in approving the Stratos Project data center in Box Elder County.
The proposed legislation would generally restrict MIDA projects to within a five-mile radius of a military installation and mandate that such projects directly contribute to military training, operational readiness, or facility security. This move is a direct response to mounting controversy over the Stratos Project, which both MIDA and the Box Elder County Commission approved earlier this year.
MIDA officials, including Project Area Director Hilary Venable and board member Clearfield Mayor Mark Shepherd, defend the Stratos Project, characterizing it as essential for strengthening military readiness and national security through energy and computing infrastructure, and generating revenue for aging military facilities like Hill Air Force Base. They argue that advanced computing infrastructure is a real and growing need for national security, citing discussions on AI and drone technology.
However, Representative Thompson believes MIDA's justification for the data center as a military benefit is a