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Council directs staff to develop data‑center policy after hearing UMPA, air‑quality and zoning concerns
Summary
Council asked staff, administration, the Energy Department and UMPA to prepare a coherent policy on data centers and associated self‑serve power plants. Council voted 6–0 to have staff draft criteria and return with policy recommendations; members cited air‑quality permits, the city’s obligation under UMPA agreements and risks of stranded assets.
After an extended discussion that included presentations from the Energy Department and UMPA representatives, the Provo City Council directed staff on April 8 to prepare a comprehensive policy for data centers and associated self‑serve power generation.
Councilors raised three recurring concerns during the work session: the scale of new data centers (tens to hundreds of megawatts), local air‑quality and emissions implications if local on‑site generation (typically natural‑gas backup or base generation) is required, and the contractual/financial constraints arising from Provo’s membership in the Utah Municipal Power Agency (UMPA). UMPA staff and Provo Power staff explained that Provo is party to agreements that effectively require the municipality to take power through UMPA and to coordinate generation resources. Staff cautioned that a data center that attempts to “island” (operate entirely separate from UMPA and Provo Power) would raise legal and operational challenges.
Councilor comment focused on controlling development so that Provo is not left with stranded financial obligations (for example, if a large customer requires generation that later disappears), ensuring adequate study of traffic and truck operations for industrial uses, and protecting air quality and trail/riverfront values along the Provo River corridor. Staff and council asked for a policy package that spells out: suitable zones for data centers, how the city will require guarantees for any on‑site generation (ownership, operation and pollution controls), how emissions and air permits will be handled and criteria for conditional use in specific zones.
A motion directing staff to work with administration, Provo Power, UMPA and related departments to draft policy returned unanimous support (6–0, Holden excused). Staff said they will start the process immediately; the City will also initiate pending legislation language for planning commission review to pause approval of new self‑serve data‑center power plants while a policy is drafted and evaluated. Council members emphasized that a careful policy is necessary to allow economic opportunity without exposing the city’s customers or finances to undue risk.
