A Heartfelt Thank You to Utah Republicans for Finally Turning Their Listening Ears On

Utah Republicans Bravely Confront the 40,000-Acre Problem They Approved

We don’t do this often. But today, we want to take a moment to sincerely, deeply, almost aggressively thank Utah’s Republican leaders.

Thank you for your courage. Thank you for your leadership. Thank you for your sudden, moving, suspiciously well-timed concern about the massive 40,000-acre gas-powered data center in Box Elder County. Thank you for bravely asking questions about a project after the public asked them first.

And most of all, thank you for showing us that when enough regular Utahns get mad, organized, loud, and impossible to ignore, even the most powerful people in this state can suddenly see the light.

Or at least see the polling.

Either way, it’s beautiful, really.

First, Thank You to Stuart Adams for Shrinking the Problem He Helped Make Full-Sized

Let us begin with Senate President Stuart Adams, who has now written a letter to Kevin O’Leary calling for the Stratos data center project to be shrunk by 75% and include more environmental protections, water stewardship, land conservation, heat capture, and public transparency.

Wow! A 75% reduction!

Bold. Visionary. Let’s look at this massive problem, and then what if, and hear me out on this, we just made it three-fourths smaller. Okay… We’re with you. We 75% support this plan.

And sure, some cynics might point out that President Adams is currently in a tough primary and may have recently discovered that Republican voters in Utah do, in fact, enjoy drinking water and breathing air more than they enjoy celebrity-backed infrastructure schemes at taxpayers’ expense.

Some cynics might also point out that the polling is coming in, and it is not exactly screaming “build the giant gas-powered robot pasture.” A Deseret News-Hinckley Institute poll found that 53% of Utah voters oppose the Stratos project, while only 30% support it. Even among Republicans, support was only 45%, with 36% opposed and about 1 in 5 unsure.

And some truly uncharitable people might note that President Adams personally chairs the MIDA board that approved 100% of this project before he became 75% concerned about it. And that he received $135,000 in donations from MIDA-connected donors. Funny how a tough primary can really sharpen a man’s political instincts.

But not us. No, no, we are choosing gratitude.

Thank you, President Adams, for standing up to Kevin O’Leary after the rest of Utah had already started standing up to Kevin O’Leary. Welcome to the China club, Mr. President. Oh, wait! Unlike us, you were already in it.

Thank You to Governor Cox for Making the Lake Great Again: Prayers Are Out, Hats Are In

We also owe a special thank you to Governor Spencer Cox, who held a press conference in a glorious “Make the Lake Great Again” hat.

Spencer Cox Facebook

The hat fit about as well as his sudden concern, and frankly, we expected better from someone with so much available hat real estate.

Also, why does everyone need a data center hat now? Kevin O’Leary had one. We made one. Now Spencer has one. We’re collecting these things like Infinity Stones, except instead of controlling the universe, they are a perfect prop for a media appearance.

At his press conference, Governor Cox said public feedback had been “incredibly helpful.” He said people are concerned about data centers, the lake, and resources, and that they should be concerned. He said he shares those concerns.

Wonderful! We are so grateful the Governor has changed his tune from “he’s tired of people being opposed to everything because they are destroying our country and it’s the dumbest thing ever” to thanking us! On behalf of the public, you’re so welcome, Governor.

He also issued an executive order directing state agencies to make sure data centers follow existing law. Which is great, because nothing says “bold executive action” like telling agencies to do the thing they were presumably already supposed to be doing. Were they not doing that already? Concerning, but let’s keep going.

To be fair, Cox did say there is a new piece: unused water must go to the Great Salt Lake. He also said the state may pursue additional data center guardrails in a special session, possibly in September.

And listen, we typically get nervous when Utah Republicans announce a special session. Historically, that phrase has meant “we found a new way to give ourselves more power and would like to do it before anyone can organize.” But in this case, the Governor floating a special session means public pressure is working. It means this project is no longer being treated as inevitable. It means they know the proposed plan is not enough to save them from political backlash.

So thank you, Governor Cox, for gifting us a good laugh and another top-tier Slack react with that hat, and for disagreeing better with a version of yourself that existed two weeks ago.

Thank You to Jason Chaffetz for Reminding Us He Still Exists

And then, of course, there is Jason Chaffetz. Welcome back, Jason! We thought we got rid of you, but like an STI in a retirement home, you always find a way back.

Without your involvement, this story would have continued to be deeply concerning. But with your involvement, we have completed our bingo card.

It was reported that Chaffetz helped connect Kevin O’Leary to the Stratos project and is reportedly being paid for it, though he will not say how much because of confidentiality agreements. Guess that Fox News contributor’s salary just wasn’t cutting it. He has also been publicly promoting the project, calling it good for jobs, national security, and the economy, while brushing off environmental concerns.

And because Utah politics was just begging for the return of the prodigal son, Chaffetz is reportedly eyeing a 2028 run for governor.

Thank you, Jason, for making this story somehow both more complicated and easier to understand. Thank you for demonstrating the difference between public service and business development. Thank you for showing Utahns that when political insiders say “national security,” sometimes they mean “please stop asking who is getting paid because it’s me!” And sometimes, it’s just fun for the public to know that multiple people eyeing the Republican nomination for Governor are financially tied to and incentivized by one of the most unpopular projects in Utah history.

Whew. Well, thanks, Jason. It’s soooooo great to have you back.

Thank You to Speaker Mike Schultz for Supporting Local Control for Two Whole Business Days

Next, we simply must thank our good friend House Speaker Mike Schultz.

Speaker Schultz came out in support of a citizen referendum on the Box Elder County data center project, saying studies need to be done, the public needs accurate information, and the community should be allowed to decide based on facts and good information.

Inspiring. A rare and beautiful sighting of “local control” in the wild.

And support for a referendum! How exciting. Granted, it is apparently much easier to support a referendum when it is not aimed directly at the Legislature, but still. Growth is growth.

We especially love local control when powerful state leaders remember it exists right before county attorneys explain that, actually, the locals may not get to control this one after all. Because in a truly elegant bit of Utah political choreography, Speaker Schultz backed the public’s right to weigh in, and then two days later, the Box Elder County Attorney’s Office rejected the referendum applications, determining that the county approvals were administrative actions, not laws voters could overturn.

But at least he got himself on the record!

And finally, thank you Speaker Schultz, for your brief but meaningful support of democracy during its limited engagement run. We understand it can be hard to champion transparency before everyone starts asking about your 25,000 acres of land surrounding the project, but hey! Welcome to the team.

A Real Thank You, Finally

Now let’s thank the people who actually deserve it.

First, the Box Elder Accountability Referendum group, or BEAR.

Box Elder residents are trying to put the county’s approval of the Stratos project on the ballot. But the Box Elder County Attorney’s Office rejected the referendum applications, determining that the county commission’s approvals were administrative actions, not legislative ones, and therefore not legally referable to voters.

Residents were told this project was a local matter. Then, residents tried to use a local democratic process. Then they were told the thing they wanted to vote on was not the kind of thing they were allowed to vote on. Funny how that works. The largest data center proposed in the United States just… doesn’t have a pathway for public accountability at all.

BEAR organizers say they are appealing the county’s rejection in court. Brenna Williams, the group’s lead liaison, said residents are furious and that the decision has only energized people more. According to Williams, around a thousand people had called asking when they could sign the petition. The group was preparing to collect more than 5,400 signatures if the referendum had been approved.

BEAR will need funds to help with the legal battle ahead to appeal the referendum. You can support BEAR here.

Finally, thank you to the public. A few weeks ago, this project was being sold as inevitable. Now…

• The Senate President wants the project reduced by 75%.

• The Speaker supports a referendum.

• The Governor issued an executive order.

• The Legislature’s Natural Resources Interim Committee voted to study the environmental impacts of data centers.

• A special session is being discussed.

• Box Elder residents are organizing and preparing legal action.

That did not happen because Utah’s Republican leaders woke up one morning with a burning passion for transparent governance, community input, and the Great Salt Lake.

It happened because people got loud. It happened because residents showed up. It happened because republicans and democrats and libertarians and unaffiliated and rural and urban and suburban and native communities came together. It happened because organizers organized, journalists reported, environmental advocates raised alarms, and regular Utahns refused to be treated like props in someone else’s economic development fantasy.

And that is as badass as it gets. That’s the Utah and the America we know and love.

So do not let the sudden concern tour fool you.

This is the moment when politicians try to soften the language, narrow the scope, quietly walk statements back, wait out the outrage, and hope everyone gets distracted by summer plans and whatever new scandal wanders out of the Utah Legislature.

Because if Utah politicians want praise for finally doing the bare minimum after weeks of pressure, fine. We are generous people. Thank you for your service.

Now go fix it.