SALT LAKE CITY — The group behind a controversial data center in Box Elder County has filed a notice to withdraw its water rights application, but it does not appear it will abandon the project.
In a notice sent Wednesday to the Utah State Engineer, Bar H Ranch announced its application will "be stopped and the application be considered withdrawn."
Utah State Engineer Teresa Wilhelmsen's office confirmed to FOX 13 News on Thursday morning that she had canceled the application, ending any review of their water rights application.
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It's expected that the company will resubmit its application at a later time.
"Bar H. Ranch intends to resubmit in a timely manner with additional supporting information and to further demonstrate the feasibility of the application. The applicant fully intends to move forward with the project and remain committed to working collaboratively through the process," the notice to the state engineer said.
In an interview with FOX 13 News, Wilhelmsen said more than 3,800 people paid $15 and submitted formal protests to the Utah State Engineer over a 1,900-acre-foot water rights application for the data center. Another 2,000 submitted letters of concern. Those would be reviewed as part of the application.
With it being withdrawn? They will not. Any future formal protests of a water rights application would need to be resubmitted and the fee paid again.
Environmental groups that oppose the data center believed this is a ploy by the data center to regroup and return within a few months.
"I think they'll be back," said Deeda Seed, a senior campaigner for the Center for Biological Diversity.
While this particular application was for only 1,900 acre-feet of water (roughly the amount a farm would use), it is expected that celebrity investor Kevin O'Leary's project would use much more water than that. An analysis released Thursday by the environmental group Grow the Flow also found the project would raise local temperatures in the Hansel Valley by as much as 5℉, and could raise nighttime temperatures by 8℉- 12℉.
Environmental groups and local residents have opposed the project over numerous issues, including ecological harms to the Great Salt Lake.
Friends of Great Salt Lake praised the public who spoke up against the project.
"This victory is made possible by each of the 3,800 community members who filed a protest and 2,000 more who emailed a letter of concern. (A record number of objections ever received by the State Engineer’s Office.)," the group said in a statement.
"However, the fight is not over. The data center and power plant is still seeking at least 13,000 acre-feet of water rights. We are prepared to protest additional water right applications for this project, and hope to see just as much engagement in those opportunities."
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