Utah County panel backs data center rules as deputies remove a woman from the meeting

The Utah County Planning Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to recommend a county ordinance setting rules for data centers, and deputies then removed a woman from the audience, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. The Utah County Commission will make the final decision at a later meeting. ^[1]

The proposed ordinance would cap data center cooling water use at 300,000 gallons a year, require studies of nearby wells and water impacts with monitoring every six months for the first two years, and expand public notice and comment. It would limit the largest projects to 500 megawatts and 1 million square feet, and let county commissioners decide case by case whether to require development agreements. ^[1]

Residents and protesters packed the meeting. Some urged stricter rules and others wanted a complete ban. Board member Seth Cox compared data centers to landfills, saying people do not want them nearby but everyone uses them. Board chair Shayne Price directed deputies to remove someone from the audience, apparently Aspen Azalea, a Utah artist and activist, the Tribune reported. ^[1]

Video from the Party for Socialism and Liberation Salt Lake City shows Azalea on the lobby floor with an officer's hand against the back of her neck, saying repeatedly, "I'm not doing anything." Officers restrained at least two people in total, the Tribune reported. The group is organizing a rally at the Utah Capitol at 6 p.m. Wednesday calling for "Justice for Aspen." The Tribune marked the story as developing. ^[1]