CALL TO ACTION — APRIL 2026
Calling All Iron County Citizens!
Your action is kindly requested once more in addressing the following updated issues:
The Antelope Data Center, a major artificial intelligence (AI) data center project has been proposed for Iron County. This project is located about 15 miles northwest of Cedar City, Utah, and spearheaded by Pronghorn Development, LLP. This project will have significant and dire consequences for Iron County including air pollution, water usage, and heat, sound, and light pollution. The Iron County Planning Commission is reviewing the conditional use permit applications for this data center and its associated power plant. The Iron County Commission will make the final call. Please take the time to reach out to our Iron County Commission members to let them know your thoughts and concerns about this proposed project!
Please use the email or telephone templates below if you find them helpful:
EMAIL TEMPLATE:
Send a joint email to the three members of Iron County Planning Commission:
- Ken Robinson: kenrobinson@ironcountyut.gov
- Mike Bleak: mbleak@ironcountyut.gov
- Paul Cozzens: pcozzens@ironcountyut.gov
To: Iron County Planning Commission
Subject: Formal Opposition to the Proposed Antelope Data Center
Dear Commissioners,
I am writing to formally state my steadfast opposition to the proposed Antelope Data Center project located northwest of Cedar City. While economic growth is vital for our region, the environmental and financial trade-offs of this specific proposal pose an unacceptable risk to our community’s long-term health and stability.
My concerns are centered on the following critical issues:
1. Threat to Human Health from Environmental Impacts of On-Site Fossil Fuel Power
The developer’s plan to bypass the grid by building a dedicated natural gas power station is deeply concerning.
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- Air Quality: Many community members choose to live in Cedar City for its clean air and beautiful rural environment. The proposed data center threatens these benefits and the very health of our community. The city cannot “market solitude and stargazing” while simultaneously permitting a square mile of industrial pollution.
Specifically, the proposed on-site natural gas power plant will emit:
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- Nitrogen Oxides ($NO_x$): These contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone and smog.
- Particulate Matter: Fine particles that impact respiratory health.
- Carbon Dioxide ($CO_2$): As a fossil fuel source, the plant will contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
- Heat Pollution: Because the data center uses a closed-loop cooling system, it requires more power to operate than traditional systems. This extra energy consumption results in the facility emitting more heat into the surrounding environment.
2. Displacement and Threat to Wildlife
Migration Routes: The site serves as a vital migration route for various wildlife, specifically the pronghorn (the animal the project is ironically named after). This is in a beautiful desert area marketed by Cedar City for its solitude and stargazing.
3. Lack of Transparency and Funding Accountability
The speed and scale of this $30 billion proposal demand a level of public scrutiny that has not yet been met.
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- Water: In the second-driest state in the nation, we cannot rely on “estimates” for water usage. We need mandatory public reporting of all water consumption before any permits are finalized. There are serious concerns about long-term water security for our community and the potential for estimates to change as the project scales.
I urge the Iron County Planning Commission to prioritize the protection of Iron County’s natural resources, the health and welfare of its inhabitants, and the honesty of our economic future over the interests of out-of-state developers. There can be no economic justification of the massive 640-acre industrialization of our beautiful desert landscape.
We need a development plan that respects our water, our air, and our community’s integrity.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address/Contact Information]Sincerely,
PHONE SCRIPT:
Call:
- Ken Robinson: (435) 691-5014
- Mike Bleak: (435) 590-9666
- Paul Cozzens: (435) 590-7618
“Hello, my name is [state your name].
As a member of the Iron County community, I’m calling to express my strong opposition to the proposed data center in Cedar City. I urge you to respond to the wishes of people living in this area who view the prospect of a data center as detrimental. We would face dirtier air, depletion of our precious water supply, noise and heat pollution, and disruption of wildlife migration routes.. None of these should be considered as trade-offs against potential financial gains. Please prioritize the protection of our natural resources and the well-being of our citizens by reconsidering this proposal.
Thank you for your time.”