Box Elder Data Center Opponents Sue Over 2 Resolutions Blocking Referendum

3 articles · Updated · KSL.com · Jun 3

Opponents filed suit Wednesday in 1st District Court in Brigham City, asking a judge to overturn Box Elder County’s rejection of a referendum drive against two resolutions tied to the data center project.
County Attorney Stephan Hadfield ruled last week that resolutions 26-11 and 26-12 were administrative actions rather than new laws, blocking organizers from collecting signatures to force a public vote.
BEAR activists say the Utah Constitution and state Supreme Court precedent protect their referendum rights, while the county said it had not yet been formally notified of the lawsuit and had no immediate response.
The dispute centers on Kevin O’Leary-backed plans for the Stratos Project Area, which could pair data centers with up to 9 gigawatts of power generation; critics cite water, air-quality and Great Salt Lake risks.
Political pressure has widened as Gov. Spencer Cox issued statewide data-center guidelines and Senate President Stuart Adams urged shrinking the project footprint from 40,000 acres to 10,000.