Data center dominates candidate forum in Utah Senate president's reelection bid

SUNSET — A top Utah leader was in the hot seat Tuesday evening over a proposed artificial intelligence data center in Box Elder County.

Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, is being challenged in this month's primary by fellow Republicans Braden Hess and Stephanie Hollist.

At a town hall forum at Sunset Junior High School, all three candidates met to talk about the Stratos data center – which is being pushed by celebrity businessman Kevin O'Leary – and the state's water policy overall.

The data center has sparked strong public pushback over concerns about water use and other things. Adams has helped move the project along as chair of the state's Military Installation Development Authority, or MIDA.

During the forum, which was sponsored by the nonprofit Grow the Flow, Hollist repeatedly criticized the data center – including when she was asked about her vision for Utah's water management.

"I might start by not proposing the largest data center in the country," Hollist said to loud applause, "particularly without all of the voice of the people, the recognition of our concerns, and the data around it."

Adams, who has served in the Legislature more than 20 years, said the state needs to be competitive in the "AI boom," but he acknowledged public opposition to the proposal.

"The people spoke (and) said we need clarity, so I pushed back," he said.

Indeed, Adams recently softened his public support of the project, pushing O'Leary to reduce the project's size and make other changes, including sending unused water to the struggling Great Salt Lake.

"I tried to listen," Adams told the crowd. "We actually got a better project because of that."

Hess, for his part, said the government shouldn't treat data centers differently than any other business.

"As long as they are not harming society and our resources in measurable ways," Hess said, "I think we should allow them to go forward."

But to the several dozen people who attended Tuesday's forum, it was clear the data center is a non-starter.

"When you talk about a project that's going to sap tax dollars away from residents, that's going to take water, that's going to endanger our way of life … it's all a red flag," said Tameron Williams, a Box Elder County resident who attended the forum. "It all feels pretty dangerous for where we're at right now."

Whichever Republican wins the Utah Senate primary next week will advance to the general election in November.

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