Utah Voters Oust Senate President Stuart Adams Over 1 Massive Data Center
Updated
Updated · Fortune · Jul 14
Utah Voters Oust Senate President Stuart Adams Over 1 Massive Data Center
3 articles · Updated · Fortune · Jul 14
Summary
June 2026 voting in Utah unseated Senate President Stuart Adams after backlash over his role in approving a massive data center in the state’s northwest.
The defeat highlighted how local concerns over water use, power demand, noise and land use can turn data center projects into electoral liabilities for politicians who back them.
More than 30 data center projects have been proposed in Michigan alone over the past two years, reflecting a broader national push tied to expected AI-driven demand for computing capacity.
Utilities, tech companies and local officials often support such projects for infrastructure spending, tax revenue and promised jobs, while residents increasingly challenge the costs and environmental burdens.