Provo City's planning commission approved plans for a new data center in East Bay, moving forward with a recommendation to the city council for final approval.
The Timpanogos Tech Center presented a proposal for the new data center, which consisted of a two-story, 132,000-square-foot facility on a 7.29-acre plot in East Bay. The project would begin as a 5-megawatt data center with potential to scale up to 50 megawatts, using closed-loop cooling to limit water consumption and purchasing power directly from Provo Power, operating independent of Provo's power grid.
Many concerns were brought up by both planning commission members and citizens attending the meeting, addressing power demand, water usage and long-term economic impacts. The applicants of the data center addressed these concerns.
Tad Smallcomb, engineering manager from Provo City Power, clarified to the committee that the facility would enter into a negotiated power purchase agreement to protect both power rates and load on the system.
"They pay for everything," Smallcomb said, referring to the data center property owners. "We anticipated building all new facilities for service to this facility."
The data center will require new substations to be developed, but will not come from the property owner's expense, nor from the taxpayers or Provo Power itself.
The location is planned to include generators, but according to proposal documents, the property owner will be in a development agreement that they will be used for back-up power only and not for on-site power generation.
Aside from power, the other main concern with the new data center was water consumption. "We have a lot of people who are worried about the water consumption that comes with cooling," city planning commissioner Lisa Jensen said.
Applicant for the data center, Stephen Styler, explained that their closed-loop system will prevent them from being a large water consumer, using water for nothing more than just culinary and employee facilities.
"We don't want to be a large water consumer," Styler said. "If we are a large water consumer, then we have problems."
Styler explained they are looking into an agreement to purchase silver water, a type of water waste produced at Provo's water treatment facility, to use as the water in their closed-loop cooling system. This deal is still in discussion with Provo's public works department.
After much clarification from the applicants, there still remained concerns over the long-term economic impact that the data center would have.
Commissioner Joel Temple expressed his concern over the lack of employment opportunities that would be created by the data center and questioned whether it is the best use for the land.
"What does this bring to Provo?" Temple asked. "We're talking 20 or 30 (jobs), maybe a little more ... I guess I'm not seeing this as the highest and best use."
Provo citizens in attendance express similar concerns, questioning both economic output and location.
"I can't help but think that Provo is giving up a lot for a little," said Angie Carter, chair of Provo's east neighborhood district.
In the session, a letter from Mayor Marsha Judkins was mentioned, weighing in her position on data center development in East Bay.
"Data centers generate very few permanent jobs, provide limited wage growth, and contribute minimal ongoing economic activity," Judkins said. "East Bay represents one of the most significant opportunities for future economic redevelopment ... it would be premature to commit this centrally located site to a use that does not align with these objectives."
The committee voted unanimously, approving the plans presented for the data center, but voted 5-2 in recommendation for rezoning, with Temple suggesting waiting for the mayor's economic development plan to be finalized this spring before giving final approval.
Other members of the committee expressed their optimism for the newly approved plans.
Commissioner Matthew Wheelwright gave it a "huge yes," expressing he was eager to replace vacant office building lots currently found in East Bay.
"There are so many vacant buildings, let's get going ... waiting is not useful for what it brings and what it adds," Wheelwright said. "I'm in support, I think this is a great addition to a community."
The data center plans will be reviewed by Provo's city council and will be considered for a vote during its next meeting, March 10.