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Candidate warns data centers could strain Lehi's water, power and land resources
Summary
On the Utah County Republican Party podcast, candidate Charlie Tatua argued data centers use significant water and power, reduce developable land because of security buffers, and deliver fewer long-term local jobs than promised; he urged local control and a 'maximum capacity' test before approving large developments.
Charlie Tatua, running for Utah House District 52, told the Utah County Republican Party podcast he opposes permitting large data centers in communities that cannot accommodate them without harming local services.
"If we are struggling with water and then some data center comes over and goes, 'We’ll build a $145 million data center,' how does that affect the people?" Tatua asked. He said data centers require large amounts of water for cooling and significant power, and that promised jobs often fail to materialize once a facility is operational. "The amount of water that I've seen operate these data centers is massive," he said, adding that wastewater practices can cause algae blooms and harm local waterways.
Tatua proposed a 'maximum capacity act' to limit new development based on available water, power and transport capacity. He argued local governments should have final say on zoning decisions because cities bear the consequences of increased traffic, reduced water supply and changes to air quality. He also proposed contract conditions requiring large incoming employers to hire a set percentage of local residents as part of any tax-incentive deal.
Host Charles Wood noted alternative power solutions such as local nuclear or solar projects but agreed the land use and security-buffer footprints often expand the true footprint of a data center. Tatua described firsthand experience working in and around data centers and said he had applied for jobs in related fields to learn operations and impacts.
No independent technical or environmental data were offered in the interview; Tatua’s comments were presented as observations and candidate policy proposals rather than findings from a regulatory review or environmental assessment.
Tatua said any decision about major developments should be guided by direct input from city residents and completed technical reviews prior to approval, not solely by developer promises or state-level mandates.
