Utah’s Emerging AI Infrastructure: The Millard County Data Center
Utah’s economic landscape continues to evolve as a new project in Millard County draws attention from policymakers and industry observers. Joule Capital Partners, in partnership with Caterpillar Inc., has proposed building a high-performance computing and artificial intelligence (AI) data center campus on roughly 4,000 acres near the Intermountain Power Project.[1] The facility could eventually reach up to 4 gigawatts of power capacity, positioning it among the largest data centers in the United States.[2]
A Rural Site for a High-Tech Project
Millard County’s selection highlights a growing national trend: large-scale data centers moving into rural regions with access to open land and power infrastructure.
Local officials have expressed optimism that the project could diversify the area’s economy by creating construction jobs and boosting tax revenues. Millard County Commissioner Dean Draper described it as a potential source of “new life and opportunity for rural Utah.”[3]
Infrastructure and Environmental Questions
The project’s scale raises important questions about energy demand and sustainability. A 4-gigawatt data center would represent a significant share of Utah’s total electricity capacity, prompting discussion of grid reliability and renewable energy sourcing. As Utah works toward a more sustainable energy future, integrating high-power industrial users will require careful planning.
Water use and environmental impacts are also key considerations. Developers have emphasized sustainability, but detailed information on cooling systems and water sourcing remains limited.[4] Environmental advocates have cautioned that the growing development of data centers could strain Utah’s already limited water resources.[5]
Balancing Opportunity and Impact
While data centers are capital-intensive, they typically provide relatively few long-term jobs. Still, construction spending and secondary business activity can provide economic benefits, especially in rural regions. For Millard County, which has seen modest population growth, the project could bring meaningful short-term and indirect gains.
Some residents, however, have voiced concerns about land conversion, noise, and traffic, highlighting the importance of transparent planning and community input. Policymakers and developers will need to balance innovation with local quality of life.[6]
Looking Ahead
The Millard County AI data center represents both promise and complexity. It signals Utah’s growing role in the digital economy while underscoring the challenges of managing large-scale infrastructure in rural settings. As plans advance, the project will serve as a key case study in how Utah integrates technology, sustainability, and community priorities into its next chapter of growth.
This Significant Statistic was written by Utah Foundation Research Intern Kailey Clay.
[1] Houck, Theresa, and Matt Vincent. 2025. “Joule Capital Taps Caterpillar to Power Huge AI, HPC Data Center in Utah.” Data Center Frontier. https://www.datacenterfrontier.com/site-selection/article/55313620/joule-capital-caterpillar-team-on-ai-hpc-in-utah
[2] Houck, Theresa, and Matt Vincent. 2025. “Joule Capital Taps Caterpillar to Power Huge AI, HPC Data Center in Utah.” Data Center Frontier. https://www.datacenterfrontier.com/site-selection/article/55313620/joule-capital-caterpillar-team-on-ai-hpc-in-utah
[3] O’Donoghue, Amy Joi. 2025. “Millard Data Center to Break Ground and Bring Promise to Rural Utah.” Deseret News. https://www.deseret.com/utah/2025/10/21/millard-county-data-center-to-break-ground-and-bring-promise-to-rural-utah
[4] Citizen Portal AI. 2025. “County approves rezoning of about 4,000 acres for proposed Jewel data-center campus.” Citizen Portal AI. https://www.citizenportal.ai/articles/6144738/Utah/County-approves-rezoning-of-about-4000-acres-for-proposed-Jewel-datacenter-campus
[5] Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment (UPHE). 2025. “The Connection Between PFAS and Data Centers.” Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment. https://www.uphe.org/2025/10/21/the-connection-between-pfas-and-data-centers
[6] Citizen Portal Inc. 2025. “County approves rezoning of about 4,000 acres for proposed Jewel data-center campus.” Citizen Portal AI. https://www.citizenportal.ai/articles/6144738/Utah/County-approves-rezoning-of-about-4000-acres-for-proposed-Jewel-datacenter-campus
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