1. United States
2. Utah
3. Letter

I am writing to formally express my opposition to the decision to allow Kevin O’Leary’s proposed data center project to move forward in our state. As a resident and a professional who works with critical infrastructure, I find the approval of this project deeply concerning for several reasons. First, Utah remains in a state of long term water insecurity. Data centers are notoriously water intensive, requiring millions of gallons daily for cooling systems. Committing our limited water shares to a private enterprise at the expense of our agricultural and residential needs is an irresponsible management of a finite resource during an ongoing drought. Second, the climate impact and energy demand cannot be ignored. A facility of this scale will place a massive burden on our power grid. While Utah aims for a balanced energy future, adding such a significant "always on" load complicates our transition to sustainable energy and will lead to increased costs for everyday citizens. Finally, the disproportionate benefits afforded to this project are troubling. While the data center will likely receive significant tax breaks and infrastructure subsidies, the actual long term job creation for Utahns is often minimal compared to the resource drain. We are effectively subsidizing the depletion of our own natural resources for the benefit of out of state investors. I urge you to reconsider the approval of this facility and prioritize the preservation of Utah’s environment and resources over speculative industrial growth.