Data centers in Utah

📜 State laws

Big power users must not push costs onto other customers (SB 132, signed March 25, 2025) · March 25, 2025
SB 132 (2025) sets rules for 'large loads' such as data centers. Rocky Mountain Power gets time to study each big request. If it cannot serve the customer without big new spending, the customer may get power from another company that builds its own power plants (on the grid or off it). The Public Service Commission must review contracts for these big customers. Costs of serving them must be tracked separately and may not be shifted to other customers. The law also requires money held as security and insurance. The commission's rule for this law (R746-318) took effect January 1, 2026. Source

Big data centers must report their water use (HB 76, signed March 23, 2026) · March 23, 2026
HB 76, the Data Center Water Transparency Amendments, covers large data centers that start operating on or after July 1, 2026 (using at least 75 acre-feet of water a year and at least 10,000 square feet). Before building, they must tell their water provider and the state about expected water sources and use, including plans to reuse water. Once running, they must report actual water use every year. The state must publish water use for each covered data center online. Cities and counties that approve one must notify state water offices. Source

Limits on local tax breaks for data centers (HB 507, signed March 25, 2026) · March 25, 2026
HB 507 generally bars cities, counties and other local governments from giving incentives to large data centers and other big energy users unless the project is inside a state-approved 'Regionally Significant Development Zone'. For data centers, property tax incentives are generally capped at 60% of the new county tax money a project brings, and can never be more than 80%. The same bill lets some economic development records, including secret deals (NDAs), be kept from the public as 'protected' records. Source

Governor's order: a 'higher bar' for data centers (Executive Order 2026-03, May 29, 2026) · May 29, 2026
Governor Spencer Cox ordered state agencies to judge large data centers by eight principles: protect the Great Salt Lake and other water (no increase in water use), protect air quality, help rural jobs, reduce harm to wildlife, protect power customers, add power plants and lines only in line with these goals, lead on 'pro-human' AI, and give the public real chances to comment. Agencies must work with MIDA, the Inland Port Authority and local governments. The order is not a law and does not apply to cities, counties or the Legislature. Source

Narrower reasons to deny a water right (HB 60, signed March 23, 2026) · March 23, 2026
HB 60 changes how the State Engineer decides water right applications. When deciding if a plan harms the 'public welfare', the State Engineer may only look at water issues (how much water, its quality and whether it is available), not wider issues that another agency handles. Protests count only on those grounds. Only people who suffer a direct injury can take the decision to court. The Better Utah Institute opposed the bill. Snell & Wilmer says it took effect May 6, 2026. Source

Other 2026 data center bills did not pass · March 6, 2026
HB 585 (data centers of 10 megawatts or more would report their energy use) and SB 318 (would have banned secret deals, called NDAs, between governments and data centers seeking approval, for centers using 20 megawatts or more) both failed in the 2026 session. Source

Lawmakers are writing new data center bills for 2027 · Aug 19, 2026
In June 2026 the Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee voted to open a bill file to define a 'large data center' in one way across state law. In August 2026 lawmakers heard from state agencies and the public; the head of the Department of Environmental Quality said no single state agency can approve a data center by itself. The House says lawmakers are studying local input, community benefits, air, water and natural resources. The 2027 session starts in January 2027. The governor has also called for 'major reform' of MIDA. Source

💡 Who pays for the power

Rocky Mountain Power rates: +4.2% from July 2026, then a freeze through 2028 · July 31, 2026
Rocky Mountain Power first asked for a 30.5% increase, then 18.1%. In 2025 the Public Service Commission allowed 4.7%. After the company appealed to the Utah Supreme Court, it offered a settlement: general rates up 4.2% ($93 million, about $3.44 a month for an average home) from July 1, 2026, and no new rate case until 2028. The company said a 10.6% drop in energy charges at the same time cuts a typical home bill by about $11 a month. The commission approved the settlement on July 31, 2026 (docket 24-035-04). Other charges, like wildfire costs and the energy balancing account, can still change bills. Source

Each big power contract goes to the Public Service Commission · April 10, 2026
Under SB 132 and rule R746-318, Rocky Mountain Power must bring each contract with a large new customer to the Public Service Commission. The first one (docket 26-035-05, filed February 10, 2026, customer name kept confidential) was approved by settlement; the final order came April 10, 2026. The commission also has an open docket on Rocky Mountain Power's line extension policy for large loads (docket 24-035-43). Residents can follow these dockets and file comments. Source

💵 Tax breaks

Sales tax break on data center equipment · 2020
Since a 2020 law (SB 114), data centers of 150,000 square feet or more, and their tenants, pay no state sales tax on servers and other equipment that lasts at least a year, plus normal repair parts. It applies to data centers built after July 1, 2016. There is no job or investment minimum. In August 2026 a state lawmaker said the state gives away 'significant' tax breaks to data centers; the state does not publish what this break costs. Source

Local property tax breaks now capped (HB 507) · March 25, 2026
Under HB 507 (2026), local governments generally may not give incentives to large data centers outside a state-approved Regionally Significant Development Zone. Property tax incentives for data centers are generally capped at 60% of the new county tax money, and never more than 80%. Source

🤐 Secret deals and public records

How to get public records (GRAMA) · Oct 7, 2026
Utah's public records law is GRAMA. Send your request to the office that keeps the record; many agencies take requests through the state's Open Records Portal (openrecords.utah.gov). Asking is free, but they may charge the real cost of copies. They have up to 10 business days to answer (faster if you show a fast answer helps the public). If they say no, appeal to the agency's chief administrative officer within 30 days, then to the director of the state Government Records Office within 30 days, then to district court within 30 days of that decision. Source

Secret deals (NDAs) with data centers are allowed · March 25, 2026
Utah has no ban on secret deals (NDAs) between governments and data center developers. A bill to ban them (SB 318) failed in 2026. HB 507 (2026) says some economic development records, including NDAs, may be classified as 'protected', meaning they can be kept from the public. You can still ask for them with a GRAMA request and appeal a denial. Source

Meeting agendas are posted on one state website · Oct 7, 2026
Cities, counties, special districts and state boards post meeting notices and agendas on the Utah Public Notice Website (utah.gov/pmn). You can search it and sign up for email alerts for a public body. This is the fastest way to see when a data center is on an agenda. Source

💧 Water

The State Engineer decides water rights; anyone can protest · May 20, 2026
Using water in Utah needs a water right from the State Engineer (Division of Water Rights). Many areas are closed to new rights; there, a user must buy an existing right and file a 'change application'. New and change applications both need public notice and a decision by the State Engineer. During the protest period after notice, anyone can file a protest; thousands of people protested a Stratos data center water application in 2026. You can sign up for email alerts on any application. Since HB 60 (2026), only water-related reasons count. Source

Data center water use will be public · July 1, 2026
Under HB 76 (2026), large data centers that start running on or after July 1, 2026 must report expected water use before building and actual use every year. The state will post the numbers for each data center. The governor's May 2026 order says data centers should not increase water use, to protect the Great Salt Lake. New water rights in the Great Salt Lake basin have been suspended since a 2022 proclamation. Source

🌫️ Air and generators

Generators and power plants need an air permit (30-day comment) · July 21, 2026
The Division of Air Quality (part of the Department of Environmental Quality) must approve projects that pollute the air, including on-site power plants and backup diesel generators, before building starts. Draft permits get public notice and a 30-day comment period. In July 2026 the division said it will keep public comment for small ('minor source') permits, even if the EPA drops that rule. For a very large project, the state says it can take about a year just to collect air data before the developer can apply. Source

🙋 How to have your say

Who decides a data center near you · Oct 7, 2026
Inside a city or town, the city or town council decides zoning, usually after a planning commission hearing. Outside cities and towns, the county decides (a county commission, or a county council in some counties). Big exception: the Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA), a state body with an appointed board, controls land use inside its own project areas, like the Stratos area in Box Elder County. Power contracts go to the Public Service Commission, water rights to the State Engineer, and air permits to the Division of Air Quality. Source

Appeal deadlines are short · Oct 7, 2026
Each city and county has an 'appeal authority' (a hearing officer or board of adjustment) for permit-type decisions. Local appeal deadlines can be as short as 10 days. Neighbors and other affected people can appeal, even when the decision favored the developer. To go to district court, file within 30 days of the final decision. Rezonings are 'legislative' decisions and are very hard to overturn in court. The state's Property Rights Ombudsman explains the process for free: (801) 530-6391. Source

Referendum: file within 7 days · Oct 7, 2026
To put a city or county law to a vote, at least five sponsors must file a referendum application with the local clerk within 7 days after the law passes (by 5 p.m.). Signatures are due 45 days after the clerk gives out the packets. Land use laws have special rules. Not every decision can be referred: in 2026 the Box Elder County attorney rejected referendums on the Stratos approvals as 'administrative' acts. Source

Pauses (moratoriums) last up to 180 days · May 26, 2026
Cities and counties can adopt a 'temporary land use regulation' that pauses new data center applications for up to 180 days. Many Utah counties and cities did this in 2026 (for example Iron County on May 26, 2026). A pause only covers new or incomplete applications. Source

How to speak up on power rates · Oct 7, 2026
The Public Service Commission decides Rocky Mountain Power's rates and big-customer contracts. Anyone can send a comment in a docket or speak at a public witness hearing. The Office of Consumer Services speaks for homes and small businesses in these cases. Source

🧾 Help with your bills

HEAT: help with heating and cooling bills · Oct 7, 2026
Utah's HEAT program (Home Energy Assistance Target) is run through local offices. It pays part of your heating and cooling bills. You must be the one who pays the utility bills, and your household income must be at or below 150% of the federal poverty line. Apply through your local HEAT office (for example Mountainland Association of Governments for Summit, Utah and Wasatch counties) with recent power and gas bills and proof of income. Source

📞 Who to contact

Utah Public Service Commission (PSC) · Oct 7, 2026
Commission that sets Rocky Mountain Power's rates, approves contracts with big power users under SB 132, and takes public comments. Source

Office of Consumer Services · Oct 7, 2026
State office that speaks for homes and small businesses in power rate cases. Source

Division of Public Utilities · Oct 7, 2026
State office that checks utility filings and takes part in Public Service Commission cases. Source

Division of Water Rights (State Engineer) · Oct 7, 2026
Decides water right applications, posts public notices, takes protests and collects data center water reports under HB 76. Source

Division of Air Quality (DEQ) · Oct 7, 2026
Approves air permits for power plants and backup generators; draft permits get a 30-day public comment period. Source

Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman · Oct 7, 2026
Free help to understand land use decisions and appeals. Phone (801) 530-6391 or (877) 882-4662. Source

Government Records Office · Oct 7, 2026
Hears appeals when an agency denies a public records (GRAMA) request. Source

Utah Public Notice Website · Oct 7, 2026
Agendas and meeting notices for every city, county and state board, with email alerts. Source

Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA) · Oct 7, 2026
State body with an appointed board that controls land use in its project areas, including the Stratos data center area in Box Elder County. Source

Utah Legislature · Oct 7, 2026
Passes state laws. Data center bills for the 2027 session are being drafted in interim committees. Source