05/06/2026
May 5, 2026. Officials ignored public input. Data Centers get go-ahead vote.
This week has been incredibly eventful, and it’s only Tuesday!
Today, a rain delay halted my current project. Home at my desk I delved into the data center public meetings and vote that took place last night here in Utah. I was invited to and attended an online meeting with Utah Senator John Curtis while the Box Elder public meeting on Data Centers was in session. It is interesting that these two meetings, overlapping in content, were held at the same time.
The meeting I was in, and the Box Elder meeting, both headed down strange paths. This this topic has been front and center in the media for weeks. Officials ignored public input and gave the project a go vote.
During the month of April, also known as Earth Month, I attended over a dozen public meetings in Utah. I spoke at two of these meetings. The proposed data centers were a hot topic. Water and power in general were a big driver for holding these meetings. In all of these meetings, no engineer or scientist representing the data center projects was present to address questions. No independent unbiased expert on air, power, or water was ever asked to weigh in, other than my brief time with the microphone.
For example: the use of closed-loop cooling systems, that use minimal water, versus cheaper evaporative cooling systems, that use thousands of gallons per day was not discussed.
During my decades in aerospace, engineering peer review on decisions like this was the norm.
Technical peer review and public transparency are not being practiced here.
Most of the electricity in Utah today comes from coal and gas. Utah is not an appropriate location, other parts of the US are far better suited, for heavy energy consuming projects like data centers, if the damn things are really necessary at all.
We are witnessing unaccountable leadership. When a public infrastructure project is required, it is imperative for it to be planned and implemented in a rational scientific way, with public involvement at every step.
Citizens of Utah, please do your homework and get involved!
Sincerely,
Daniel Keiley
Solar advocate and energy consultant - North American Board Certified.
Aerospace Engineer - retired.
Sustainability advocate and volunteer. Lifelong bicycle commuter.
Certified Professional Ski Instructor.
425-749-1469
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https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielkeiley/
