Emergency Resolution Regarding Legislative Oversight, Public Transparency, and Citizen Protections For Large Scale Strategic Infrastructure Projects

Gunnar Thorderson, Utah County

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WHEREAS, the State of Utah is actively pursuing large scale energy, artificial intelligence, industrial, and infrastructure development initiatives under the broader framework commonly referred to as “Operation Gigawatt”; and

WHEREAS, the proposed Stratos Project in Box Elder County represents a historically significant coordinated energy and artificial intelligence infrastructure development with potential long term implications for Utah’s economy, utilities, natural resources, infrastructure systems, and local communities; and

WHEREAS, Utah Republicans support responsible economic growth, technological innovation, domestic energy production, national security readiness, and efforts to ensure the United States remains globally competitive; and

WHEREAS, projects of this scale also warrant transparency, legislative oversight, enforceable public protections, and meaningful accountability to Utah citizens, taxpayers, ratepayers, and local communities; and

WHEREAS, extraordinary public participation and civic engagement surrounding the Stratos Project demonstrate significant public interest in ensuring these issues receive careful review and responsible governance; and

WHEREAS, maintaining public trust requires that major statewide infrastructure and development decisions proceed alongside clear safeguards, independent verification, and transparent public accountability;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Utah Republican Party calls upon the Utah Legislature, relevant state agencies, and appropriate oversight bodies to ensure that prior to further major approvals, public commitments, incentive expansions, or infrastructure expansions associated with the Stratos Project or similarly scaled developments, the following principles be upheld:

1. Independent verification and transparent public disclosure of projected taxpayer impacts, infrastructure burdens, utility impacts, and net long term public benefit analyses;
2. Legally enforceable protections preventing residential utility ratepayers from subsidizing infrastructure, generation, transmission, standby capacity, or related costs associated with large load industrial projects;
3. Full public disclosure of all tax incentives, abatements, reimbursements, public financing arrangements, and projected long term fiscal impacts associated with such developments;
4. Independent hydrological review and transparent public accounting of proposed water sourcing, depletion assumptions, recharge impacts, and long term watershed implications;
5. Comprehensive public review of air quality impacts, emissions modeling, and cumulative environmental impacts associated with proposed large scale power generation facilities;
6. Meaningful legislative oversight and periodic public reporting requirements for projects utilizing extraordinary state coordination authorities, including projects operating under MIDA jurisdiction;
7. Reasonable protections for local communities regarding infrastructure capacity, emergency services, transportation impacts, public participation rights, dark sky preservation, light pollution mitigation, and long term planning considerations;
8. Good faith efforts to prioritize Utah workers, Utah businesses, workforce training opportunities, and measurable local economic benefits whenever reasonably practicable.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Utah Republican Party supports a development model that balances innovation, economic growth, national competitiveness, and responsible stewardship while ensuring Utah citizens remain active participants in decisions carrying significant long term consequences for the future of the state.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Governor of Utah, the Utah Legislature, the Military Installation Development Authority, the Utah Public Service Commission, the Utah Division of Water Rights, the Utah Division of Air Quality, and Utah’s congressional delegation.