Creekstone Energy has proposed rezoning more public land to house solar panels to power the world’s largest Artificial Intelligence data campus coming to Millard County, Utah. This will be in addition to using natural gas. Many grazers and ranchers in the community shared concerns about the solar project.
The Delta Gigasite project broke ground south east of Delta, Utah a couple weeks ago. Creekstone Energy plans to build its solar panels next to the data campus. With the addition of the solar panel rezone, this project would use nearly 9,000 acres of public land.
The land where the AI campus and proposed solar panels will be built is owned by the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration. Up to this point, SITLA has issued grazing permits for livestock use on the land, using revenue to fund public schools throughout the state.
Spence Butler, a farmer who currently grazes cattle on the land, spoke at a Millard County zoning and planning meeting about prioritizing agriculture over industrial development.
“We want things to come into the county, but we want things that are going to help agriculture and the rural area,” Butler said. “We have hundreds of allotments in this county. If we start picking them off, they’re gonna keep getting picked off.”
If the solar panel plan is enacted, grazers will not be immediately removed from the land, but there will be a significantly decreased capacity for livestock. The revenue SITLA will receive from the data campus is estimated to greatly exceed the revenue made from grazing permits.
The AI campus center is also expected to increase the local property tax base, which would ultimately raise the county’s budget to fund public initiatives.
Another community member, Collin Bennet, shared his hopes that the project will bring jobs to the community geared towards younger generations.
“Us young people are interested in tech jobs. This is where we get those jobs and my generation gets to stay,” said Bennet.
The applicants shared that this project would bring around 120 jobs to the county, with a projected median salary of $130,000. They are willing to hire as many qualified Millard County citizens as possible.
“We’re working actively with Snow College and other universities to train people, not only in college, but high school students, so we can create the work force locally,” shared Steve Styler, Creekstone Energy’s legal representative.
Dozens of community members shared their opinions on the matter, which were mostly apprehensive of the project. Many shared concerns that more industrial development in the area could disrupt natural beauty and native wildlife. There were a lot of worries about the increased traffic during construction. One community member shared that without the livestock to graze the area’s vegetation, fire risk could increase.
Overall, most residents had come to terms with the data center, but wished the solar panels could be built farther from the community.
The planning and zoning committee ultimately voted against the rezone, but the final decision will be made by the county commissioners. A finalized proposal will be shared with the county after the decision is made.
Author: Heather Turner
Editor: Briar Adams
Photos courtesy of Shim Callister and Mike Turner
