The Clearfield City Council placed the regulation of large power and water users, including potential data centers, on the agenda for its Oct. 13, 2026, work meeting. According to a staff memo, officials are seeking direction to help narrow the scope of research regarding how to manage these high-impact users.
The discussion includes determining which zoning would best suit these uses and whether they should be permitted, handled through an overlay, or classified as conditional. Staff members are also examining which impacts warrant city-level rules. Potential measures include setting a daily consumption cap or requiring closed-loop cooling, even for existing facilities.
The memo raises several questions regarding the city's role in regulating power demand versus the responsibility of Rocky Mountain Power. Additionally, officials are weighing whether the Freeport Center area requires regulations beyond the existing Clearfield noise ordinance. Other considerations include the effects on public safety services and streets, as well as whether issues like electronic waste, heat, and decommissioning fall under the jurisdiction of the state Department of Environmental Quality or the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
Clearfield recently adopted a temporary land use regulation to allow time for research into rules for existing and future users. This regulation expires March 16, 2027. The memo notes that the Utah Legislature is likely to consider and pass state rules that could override any local ordinances adopted by the city.
Staff presented two alternatives to drafting an immediate ordinance: waiting for a clearer picture of the state's approach or rescinding the temporary regulation to adopt a permanent ordinance after the 2027 session. The memo noted that the fiscal impact of any new ordinance on city revenue cannot be determined until rules are implemented and private development decisions follow.
