The Eastern Summit County Planning Commission is evaluating whether to include in an updated General Plan guidelines governing the placement of large-scale data centers, with planning commissioners acknowledging the Wasatch Back has similar economic and environmental features as Box Elder County. Kevin O’Leary, a celebrity investor known for his appearances on “Shark Tank,” proposed a 40,000-acre data center project in Box Elder County earlier this year, drawing national attention and sparking protests as residents voiced concerns about the state’s ongoing drought and increased power demand. The Military Installation Development Authority backed the proposal, which was ultimately reduced to 20,000 feet. Planning Commissioner David Darcey has repeatedly told other county officials that the Wasatch Back has comparable conditions to Box Elder County, especially because a gas pipeline runs through the area. The pipeline would provide the necessary infrastructure for a data center, according to Darcey, who previously worked in strategy and market intelligence for an energy company. County planner Ray Milliner told planning commissioners earlier this month that he had added guidelines regarding data centers to the latest Eastern Summit County General Plan draft. The advisory policy discourages “large-scale industrial or utility-intensive land uses in areas identified for open space preservation” and agriculture. The Eastern Summit County Planning Commission has been working on updating the General Plan for more than a year, and the County Council is expected to review and possibly approve the document by the end of 2026. It is generally considered an advisory plan to guide future land use, but it also provides a framework for the County Council to adjust the county code when necessary. Darcey attended a Utah Association of Counties conference on data center regulations last month and said he was surprised by how many counties seemed to want data centers. However, Milliner said that willingness could be a benefit because companies would likely want to build in a data center-friendly area rather than forcing a project through Summit County. “(That) would probably deter a lot of people, but you never know,” Milliner said. The Planning Commission has been reviewing sections of the General Plan twice a month to offer suggestions and potential changes to planning department staff. The General Plan — and any data center regulations — would only affect the East Side, as the Snyderville Basin is governed by a separate plan specific to the western part of Summit County. County officials have previously said they expect the Planning Commission and County Council to finalize the General Plan by the end of the year. The post Summit County might regulate large-scale data centers on the East Side appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less