A proposed 9 gigawatt data center campus in Box Elder County, Utah, may significantly spike the state's carbon footprint. The project includes a dedicated natural gas power plant that could produce double the electricity Utah currently consumes annually. While state officials argue the project is a national security priority for AI and machine learning, environmental experts warn it could increase state CO2 emissions by over 50%. The project is currently under review by county commissioners amid public concern over resource use.
