SALT LAKE CITY – A new state website aims to shed light on the Utah entity supporting a controversial proposed data center in Box Elder County.
New website details MIDA operations
State Auditor Tina Cannon spoke to reporters Thursday about the new website that's focused on Utah's Military Installation Development Authority, or MIDA. The independent state authority has become somewhat of a household name in Utah as the Stratos data center championed by celebrity businessman Kevin O’Leary has received a lot of scrutiny and public pushback.
Website contents and transparency goals
The website, which is part of Transparent Utah, contains all publicly available documents about MIDA, which has been helping shepherd the proposed data center along. The site includes reports, financial data, information about MIDA's powers and authority, board member biographies, how the entity has changed since it was first created by the Legislature in 2007, and other things.
“I am positive it will not answer every question for every person,” Cannon said, “but we do think that this provides a better timeline and a better … overview of what MIDA is, how it evolved to what it is, and what it can actually do.”
Public demand for information
Cannon said the website was created as her office has been “blowing up” with phone calls from the public wanting answers about what MIDA and its role.
“Until the Box Elder project, I don't know that most people were aware of MIDA at all,” said Cannon, noting it is not a new entity. “Making the public aware of what we already knew is the goal here.”
MIDA leadership and board members
MIDA is governed by an eight-member board that includes Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, and Sen. Jerry Stevenson, R-Layton, both of whom are powerful lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
Legal allegations against MIDA
A group known as the Utah Civic Compact this week alleged that MIDA did not properly follow state law in allowing the data center to move forward, but a spokesperson for the state entity denied those charges.
Related: Box Elder County referendum to overturn approval for data center will not go on November ballot
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