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- calendar_today November 9, 2026
Grand County Considers Future of Data Centers
In response to ongoing debate over the presence and impact of data centers, Grand County commissioners have authorized spending up to $5,000 to determine whether the county should ban these facilities or set conditions for smaller centers. The decision will guide policy as the county's temporary pause on new data center applications nears its January 3 expiration date.
Details of the $5,000 Allocation
On November 4, county commissioners unanimously approved funding for Sunrise Engineering. The firm's assignment is to prepare draft rules exploring two main options: either prohibiting data centers to the extent that state law allows, or permitting smaller-scale facilities under specific regulations. These options will be presented to the planning commission, which will then deliberate and seek public input before the county commission makes any final decision.
Temporary Pause and Background
The county's current 180-day temporary land use regulation, enacted on July 7, put a hold on all applications related to data centers, associated power plants, and digital infrastructure. This pause was meant to give the county time to develop permanent standards and better define data centers in the land use code, as no such standards presently exist. The draft options from Sunrise Engineering are expected within two weeks, after which planning commission review and public hearings will follow.
Issues Under Consideration
Data centers, which store and process digital information for services like cloud computing and artificial intelligence, have sparked concern due to their high power demand and, in some cases, significant water use. The planning commission has asked that any future policy address state legal requirements, local water scarcity, power demands, and the potential financial impacts on the community. Clear distinctions between large-scale data centers and basic equipment supporting other local businesses, such as banks, are also sought.
The county's utility overlay and infrastructure, such as substations and power supply, have been identified as critical factors to examine. Consulting already underway for a larger rewrite of the county’s land use code includes these questions.
Planning Commissioners and Community Perspectives
Planning commissioners have expressed divergent opinions. Commissioner Robert O’Brien supports a complete prohibition on data centers, citing resource demands and possible conflicts with other land uses: “I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing to say no to certain things.” In contrast, Commissioner Randy Day favors conditional approval if facilities can demonstrate adequate access to power and water. Day said, “If you can prove you can do it and get the power to it, God bless.”
During an October 26 planning meeting and in public comments on November 4, concerns were also raised about noise, lighting, the size of building footprints, and setbacks from neighboring properties. Some debated whether the county could legally prohibit data centers. Castle Valley resident Mary O’Brien urged commissioners to keep a prohibition among the options, stressing the importance of community involvement in the decision-making process.
Next Steps
After Sunrise Engineering delivers draft language for both a data center ban and rules for smaller facilities, the planning commission will review the proposals. Further public hearings and discussions will follow, though specific dates have not been set as of November 5. The outcome will determine how Grand County approaches future data center development and sets a precedent for other Utah communities facing similar decisions regarding land use regulations and digital infrastructure.
Source: sltrib.com.
