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Rep. Malloy: data centers must show water use up front; Utah should expand energy options including microreactors
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Summary
Corey Malloy told a Utah County Republican Party podcast that data centers should demonstrate upfront water usage and accountability before approvals and incentives; he said Utah should pursue diverse energy options, including smaller nuclear reactors, to keep power affordable.
Representative Corey Malloy said the legislature recently passed requirements for data centers to estimate water use before receiving approval or incentives and that cities should have primary land-use authority to judge local resource availability.
"The bill that was passed is specifically related to water... there is a mathematical formula, how much water per whatever they do in the data center," Malloy said, describing the requirement that companies show water demand during the approval process.
Malloy named Meta's data center activity near Eagle Mountain as an example and said local officials told him the company had tripled water use after locating there, arguing that accountability must be part of any data-center incentive.
On energy, Malloy backed an "all-of-the-above" approach and said Utah is examining nuclear options, including smaller microreactors. "A few of those around the state would provide the power," he said, arguing that more generation choices can help hold down prices.
Why it matters: Data centers can consume large volumes of water and electricity; Malloy framed upfront resource accounting as a way to avoid burdening local utilities and taxpayers. The energy remarks signal legislative interest in alternatives, including microreactors, as part of broader infrastructure and economic development discussion.
What remains unclear: Malloy referenced local reports of increased water use and said a formula is required by law, but the transcript did not include independent measurements, precise water-usage numbers, or the full text of the statutory formula.
