Box Elder Data Center

 A major topic affecting our community this week is the proposed hyper data center and associated mega gas-fired power plant to be sited in western Box Elder County - Hansel Valley.  

A quasi state entity MIDA - Military Infrastructure Development Authority, in partnership with a private group called Stratos, and a financial front man named Kevin O'Leary, wants to acquire 40,000 acres in Box Elder County to build a 3 gigawatt gas-fired power plant, ramping to 7.5 Gw or 9 Gw (this is a lot - as in, the largest such power plant in the world) to exclusively power a massive data center to be built there.  MIDA made a request to approve an interlocal agreement with Box Elder county on April 22 (see video here); the commission tabled the motion and considered it at a meeting on April 27 (see video here); again, the motion was tabled and a meeting is set for May 4, at 4 pm, at the Box Elder Fairgrounds Fine Arts Building, at 4 pm.  A large number of people showed up for the April 27 meeting, and it is anticipated that many more will be at the May 4th meeting. This request, and many other similar requests nationwide, are receiving considerable regional and national news coverage, and significant push back by local residents and other groups.  For more information, please go here. 

What can you do?  By watching the videos and the reports from people who attended, one can determine that the Box Elder county commission was asked about this VERY late in the game - perhaps as late as just a few weeks ago. This is a massive project - billions of dollars of investment, large construction projects with perhaps 1000’s of temporary construction jobs over 3-4 years.  MIDA representatives did not supply backing data for many of their assertions regarding tax revenue, environmental reports, geologic hazards, local and regional air quality and water impacts; and at times provided numbers that are at odds with information most other reputable resources provide regarding jobs and revenue created, environmental impacts, etc. 

1.  IF you have time and or expertise, you can watch the meetings - at the first meeting the topic is considered from 9-16 min, read this material, and send questions to the commission here. 

2. There will be a rally at 3 pm, Monday May 4, at the Box Elder Fairgrounds, Tremonton. 

3. The commission is meeting at 4 pm, NO public comments will be allowed, and the commission expects strict decorum regarding any comments from the audience. The commission makes it clear that the meeting is in their chambers. We aim to enable Box Elder county residents to have seating priority.

4. If you have time, and especially can pose questions that are relevant to the commission’s decision, please post questions here. They ask to make your questions as detailed as possible.

Personal note, we are holding a lot of space for the 3 county commissioners - they represent a county of 58,000 people with significant suburban encroachment from the south; a large rocketry facility, large amounts of arid land, a complex relationship with the federal and state governments, and private companies, regulated utility companies, Salt Lake City, etc.,  when it comes to land use, water rights, industrial infrastructure, grazing rights, hunting, salt, and phragmites. The folks there have a historical perception of being a rural, quiet place;  within a few weeks they are being pressured by a state entity backed by the governor, the state senate president, at least one of our US senators, to sign onto a project for which the front man is appearing on Fox News, MSN, etc. and where billions may be spent, and where there appears to be few details provided regarding the costs, impacts, extent, etc., of the project.  The original ask for approval was a 9 minute session in a rather uneventful commission meeting, and now they are a center of attention. 

Sign making Saturday and Sunday, Logan,  May 2 and 3.  Final details for time and place to follow.