Governor of Utah
Now: Governor verified October 12, 2026 · source (opens in a new tab)
Photo: The White House, public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new tab), cropped.
Checked · How the record reads leaders · Report a change · Corrections
Of 25 statements on the record, 3 were for data centers, 16 raised concerns about data centers, 2 were mixed and 4 carry no label.
Labels are applied by the record's published rules: two readings of each statement, and a third that reads its source where the two differ. Every label sits beside its statement and its source, and any label can be challenged through Report a change, with the correction logged on the corrections page.
Position History: Chronological record of positions across sourced statements.
- · Supports · KUTV
- · Supports · KUTV
- · Mixed · ksl.com
- · Raises concern · Utah News Dispatch
- · Raises concern · The Salt Lake Tribune
- · Raises concern · The Salt Lake Tribune
- · Mixed · grist.org
- · Raises concern · YouTube
- · Raises concern · FOX 13 News Utah
- · Raises concern · FOX 13 News Utah
- · Supports · NPR Utah | KUER
- · Raises concern · Utah News Dispatch
Position note: Follows earlier support for Utah data center expansion, shifting in August 2026 toward calling for reform of the Military Installation Development Authority after the Stratos project controversy.
- · Raises concern · NPR Utah | KUER
- · Raises concern · NPR Utah | KUER
- · Raises concern · The Salt Lake Tribune
- · Raises concern · NPR Utah | KUER
- · Raises concern · KSL News
- · Raises concern · KSL News
- · Raises concern · KSL News
- · Raises concern · yahoo.com
- · Raises concern · Utah News Dispatch
What they said
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Cox criticized MIDA for mission creep in approving large development projects beyond military initiatives
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: Yahoo · August 29, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Utah News Dispatch (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "Cox criticized MIDA for mission creep in approving large development projects beyond military initiatives".
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Spencer Cox criticized the Utah Military Installation Development Authority approval of the Stratos data center
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: August 28, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- yahoo.com (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "Stratos is the one that obviously got a tremendous amount of attention, and it should have. The process was not good".
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Cox said he would support legislation to regulate how much heat comes from data centers
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 21, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- KSL News (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "he would support legislation to regulate how much heat comes from data centers".
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Gov. Cox supports major reforms to the Utah Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA)
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: August 21, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- KSL News (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "The process was not good, and the MIDA process especially.".
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Cox said he would support legislation requiring data centers to install only closed loop systems that use less water
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: August 21, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- KSL News (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "Cox said he would support legislation requiring data centers to install only closed loop systems that use less water".
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Cox said people need an opportunity to weigh in on data center development and local communities need a better opportunity
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 20, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- FOX 13 News Utah (opens in a new tab), local outlet
- FOX 13 News Utah (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "people need an opportunity to weigh in on data center development and local communities need a better opportunity".
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Cox advocated for changes to MIDA including more involvement from the governor's office
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 20, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- FOX 13 News Utah (opens in a new tab), local outlet
- FOX 13 News Utah (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "the Stratos Project approval process was not good and he has advocated for changes including more involvement from the governor's office".
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Cox said he has no problem whatsoever supporting expanded legislation to include closed loop systems that are more water efficient
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 20, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- NPR Utah | KUER (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "no problem whatsoever supporting expanded legislation to include closed loop systems that are more water efficient".
-
Governor Spencer Cox said the process surrounding the Stratos project was not good and particularly criticized the MIDA process
Position note: Follows earlier support for Utah data center expansion, shifting in August 2026 toward calling for reform of the Military Installation Development Authority after the Stratos project controversy.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 20, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Utah News Dispatch (opens in a new tab), local outlet
- Utah News Dispatch (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "the process surrounding the Stratos project was not good and particularly criticized the MIDA process".
-
Cox said he would be open to requiring all future data center proposals to use closed loop cooling
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 20, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- NPR Utah | KUER (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "open to requiring all future data center proposals to use closed loop cooling".
-
Cox said the approval process was not good and called for major reform of the MIDA process
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 20, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- NPR Utah | KUER (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "the approval process was not good and called for major reform of the MIDA process".
-
Cox said he is supportive of major reform to MIDA and will push for that reform
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 20, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Utah News Dispatch (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: No label: the words support none. Both readings of the statement held it.
-
Cox said the Stratos Project in Box Elder County experienced incredible public pushback earlier this year
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: August 20, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- NPR Utah | KUER (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: No label: the words support none. The two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source held it.
-
Governor Cox said his office should 'play a bigger role' in weighing data center projects
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: August 20, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- The Salt Lake Tribune (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "Stratos is the one that obviously got a tremendous amount of attention, and it should have. The process was not good, and the MIDA process especially.".
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Cox is looking for elected officials to have more of a say in what happens with MIDA projects than they have had in the past
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: August 20, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- NPR Utah | KUER (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "a little bit more of a say in what happens there than what we've had in the past.".
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Governor Cox committed to slowing down data center permits and requiring careful evaluation of environmental impacts
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: July 26, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- YouTube (opens in a new tab), video
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "committed to slowing down data center permits and requiring careful evaluation of environmental impacts".
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Governor Spencer Cox said the Stratos Project will never be powered solely by natural gas; future phases should use nuclear, geothermal, and solar power
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: May 28, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- grist.org (opens in a new tab), national outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "will never be powered solely by natural gas; future phases should use nuclear, geothermal, and solar power".
-
Governor Cox acknowledged the process for Stratos Project approval was not good
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: May 28, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- grist.org (opens in a new tab), national outlet
-
Governor Cox said future decisions like this should involve his office and the Legislature
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: May 21, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- The Salt Lake Tribune (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "In the future those are decisions that should be made by us, so that we can do these types of things ahead of time".
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Governor Spencer Cox acknowledged that the rollout of the controversial Stratos data center project in Box Elder County was not handled well
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: May 21, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- The Salt Lake Tribune (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "the rollout of the controversial Stratos data center project in Box Elder County was not handled well".
-
Governor Spencer Cox stated taking time does not make things better or safer
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: May 14, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Utah News Dispatch (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: No label: the words support none. Both readings of the statement held it.
-
Governor Spencer Cox directed the Department of Natural Resources to ensure environmentally sensitive cooling technology is used
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: May 14, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Utah News Dispatch (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "to ensure that the most environmentally-sensitive cooling technology is used to ensure that our water and the Great Salt Lake are protected".
-
Governor Spencer Cox acknowledged that project opponents have 'real concerns' after initially dismissing their criticism
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: May 13, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- ksl.com (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "Cox supports the plans but acknowledged late last week that the foes have "real concerns," after initially dismissing their criticism.".
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Governor Cox stated that concerns about water and power use contain incorrect information and the state will not allow centers to take all power or increase utility rates.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: April 30, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- KUTV (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "concerns about water and power use contain incorrect information and the state will not allow centers to take all power or increase utility rates".
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Governor Cox stated the project is built for this use, is right next to a natural gas pipeline so they can build their own energy, and is not next to somebody's house.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: April 30, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- KUTV (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "built for this use, is right next to a natural gas pipeline so they can build their own energy, and is not next to somebody's house".
4 statements on file were labeled and are left out of the counts.
How they voted
No vote on a data center measure on the record.
Something missing?
Know a sourced statement by Spencer J. Cox on data centers that is not here? Send the link. It goes to the record's inbox as a card routed to this person and publishes only after it is read against its source.
Are you Spencer J. Cox or on the campaign? Ask for a correction or send a statement, or email corrections@datacenterrecord.org.
Data Center Record, "Public statements by Spencer J. Cox", https://datacenterrecord.org/speakers/spencer-j-cox, last verified October 20, 2026.
Reusing this page
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Last verified: October 12, 2026.