Utah governor on the 'rushed' data center project

Gov. Spencer Cox said he supports the installation of a new “hyperscale” data center in Box Elder County, a project expected to both generate and consume more power than Utah currently uses. He also bristled against criticism that the proposed project has been rushed. “This whole idea of being rushed — I’m so tired of our country taking years to get stuff done,” he said at a news conference Thursday morning. “It’s the dumbest thing ever. We think that taking time makes things better or safer. It absolutely does not.” And though Cox said he has been “pretty neutral on data centers,” the governor said every state, including Utah, “has an obligation to allow for these types of data centers to be built.” Cox’s comments on the proposed project came after a week of public frenzy and just days after the Box Elder County commissioners delayed making a final decision on approving the data center until next Monday. It has already received initial approval from the state’s Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA), which agreed to significantly limit taxes in an effort to help lure the project to northern Utah. Reporting: Addy Baird and Robert Gehrke | The Salt Lake Tribune Video: PBS Utah