Carbon County, Utah, once the center of the state's coal industry, is now the target of two large data center proposals. Valar Atomics wants to build 456 small modular reactors on BLM and state trust land, while Altigen Energy plans a 250 MW natural gas plant that could grow to 3 GW. The projects would bring jobs and tax revenue to a region that has not mined coal since 2023, but many residents say the plans were kept behind nondisclosure agreements and are moving too fast. Local opposition centers on radioactive waste, heat, water use, and the risks of untested SMR technology. Supporters point to the county's economic decline and the need for new revenue. Utah's SB 132 lets large energy users build their own power plants, which is driving a wave of gas-fired projects for AI data centers across the state. The outcome in Carbon County could set a precedent for how rural communities balance climate, economy, and energy development.
