How rural Utah became the frontline of America’s AI data center backlash
When driving through Mona, Utah, one immediately notices the mountainous backdrop overlooking the town — it can be seen from the backyard porch swings of many homes in the rural town.
Mona residents are now fighting to preserve those views. The town is raging against a 3-million-square-foot mega data center being built — a data center residents say they didn’t know about until it was already approved.
The town’s Planning and Zoning Commission granted a conditional use permit for the data center developer, which meant they did not need to send letters of notice to landowners within 1,000 feet of the site. This left Mona residents feeling like they were in the dark.
Only 25% of Utahns oppose data centers broadly, a recent survey from Utah State University found. But when asked about a data center within 3 miles of one’s home, the opposition jumps to 68%.
“It does seem like as it gets closer to people’s home, they are more strongly opposed,” said Stacia Ryder, sociologist and USU researcher.
Aside from “run-of-the-mill” issues such as light pollution, traffic and noise, researchers are pointing to a larger, underlying theme.
“A data center is the first physical manifestation (of AI) that we’ve had as community members,” said Gina Gilson, another USU researcher. Gilson said that as artificial intelligence becomes a prominent part of daily life, this is many people’s first opportunity “to say no.”