Box Elder County Approves 40,000-Acre AI Data Center as 70% of Americans Oppose New Local Sites
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 5
Box Elder County Approves 40,000-Acre AI Data Center as 70% of Americans Oppose New Local Sites
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 5
Summary
Box Elder County approved a 40,000-acre AI data center project in Tremonton, Utah, drawing protests over water use, power demand and environmental impact.
The dispute reflects a broader backlash: a Fox poll cited in the report found 70% of Americans oppose new data centers in their communities, while 40% of planned projects have been delayed or canceled in 2026.
The report says the resistance has turned data centers into a midterm political issue, pointing to construction pauses or moratorium moves by governors in Texas and New York.
It argues the fight mirrors the earlier backlash against fracking and warns that slowing U.S. data-center buildouts could hand China an advantage in AI and other high-tech infrastructure.