u/Spiritual-Driver8926

Information regarding Utah Governor Spencer Cox and a controversial data center project involves his family's long-standing business, CentraCom.

Here are the key details based on reports as of early May 2026: Family Connection: Spencer Cox’s father, Eddie Cox, is the President of CentraCom, a Utah-based telecommunications company. A cousin, I. Branch Cox, serves as CEO.

The Project: The controversy centers on a massive 9-gigawatt "hyperscale" data center project in Box Elder County, which is being backed by Kevin O'Leary's O'Leary Digital.

Allegations and Ties: Online reports and critics have pointed to the fact that CentraCom, managed by the Governor's father and cousin, is involved in providing the infrastructure (fiber networks) for this, or similar, massive data center projects.

Role of CentraCom: CentraCom has grown significantly, becoming the second-largest fiber network in the state, with its growth tracking with Gov. Cox’s political rise.

Conflict of Interest Concerns: While critics allege a conflict of interest, reports indicate that Spencer Cox has not owned a stake in CentraCom since he divested from the firm when it was purchased by LICT Corporation in 2001.

Gov. Cox's Position: Gov. Cox has publicly defended the project, stating that the state has an "obligation" to allow these data centers to be built for national security and economic reasons.The project has faced public scrutiny over concerns regarding water usage and energy consumption.

Hi y’all. Send an email to this email address, waterrights@utah.gov, by midnight. Express your opposition to the data center in Box Elder county. This is the UT Division of Water Rights. They could reject the water rights proposal and potentially stop the project. It’s one of our last options, even a short email is better than nothing! Thank you!

The 40,000-acre project near Great Salt Sake would require massive amounts of energy and water in the GSL basin, where every drop matters and a fragile ecosystem is already under strain.

Key details of the project remain unverified and no clear, independent analysis has been provided.

At a recent meeting, officials called the decision “irrevocable.”

Help stop this unprecedented development by protesting the project’s water rights application and attending the Box Elder County Commission meeting on Monday, May 4!"