Box Elder County Voters Seek Referendum on Hyperscale Data Center Project Approval

Box Elder County, Utah, is at the center of a debate over a proposed 'hyperscale' data center. A group of local voters has filed an application to initiate a land use referendum, aiming to overturn the county commission's recent decision to approve the project. If successful, the measure could appear on a county-wide ballot, allowing residents to directly vote on the data center's development. The proposed data center, reportedly backed by 'Shark Tank' investor Kevin O'Leary, would be substantial in size, approximately 62 miles, comparable to almost two times the size of Utah's capital city, Salt Lake City, which is 110 miles away. The move by citizens comes after the Box Elder County Commission, despite considerable public opposition, unanimously approved the creation of a project area for the Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA) to develop. Box Elder County Clerk Marla Young confirmed the filing of the application to The Salt Lake Tribune, noting that the legality of such a land use referendum is still under review by county officials. To qualify for the ballot, the group would need to collect over 5,400 signatures from residents across the county. This ongoing effort highlights significant community pushback against the data center development.