Box Elder County commissioners walk out of meeting over massive data center project

Hundreds of Box Elder County residents gathered at the fairgrounds for a commissioners' vote on a large data center project. The three county commissioners initially faced booing and yelling from the crowd after announcing there would be no public comment. A commissioner threatened law enforcement removal for disruptions, and the commissioners eventually walked out of the meeting due to continued shouting. Despite the public outcry, the Box Elder County Commission later unanimously approved an agreement with MIDA (Military Installation Development Authority). This agreement includes consent for the incorporation of private land into the project. County Commissioner Lee Perry stated that this vote is the beginning of the process and represents a significant economic opportunity for the local area, although it faced substantial community opposition at the meeting.