Residents across Utah criticized Gov. Spencer Cox after he supported a large data center project during the announcement of a statewide drought emergency. During a press conference near Little Dell Reservoir outside Salt Lake City on Thursday, Cox said the entire state is currently facing severe drought conditions. The criticism intensified after he claimed the proposed data center would not significantly impact Utah’s water supply.
The discussion quickly spread online after footage from the press conference circulated across social media platforms, particularly Reddit. On the subreddit r/Utah, the clip drew hundreds of upvotes and comments from users attacking Cox’s response to the drought and questioning his support for the data center project.
According to reports, Cox said the drought emergency order would help unlock state funding, improve coordination with federal agencies, and encourage residents to conserve water as conditions continue worsening across Utah. State officials said Utah’s snowpack reached historic lows this year.
Cox urged residents to use less outdoor water during the drought. He specifically pointed to lawn watering, which accounts for roughly two-thirds of residential water use in the state. He also praised conservation efforts by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including smart irrigation systems and previous water donations to the Great Salt Lake.
The Utah governor also addressed concerns about a large-scale data center project approved earlier this month in Box Elder County. Cox argued the facility would use less water than the area’s current usage and defended both farmers and industry against criticism over water consumption during the drought emergency.
Utah Residents Slam Cox Online
The reaction online was overwhelmingly negative. Many residents accused Cox of protecting corporate interests while asking ordinary people to cut back on water use. Others argued that supporting a major data center during a drought sent mixed messages about the seriousness of the crisis. “Money talks,” one user wrote.
Several commenters mocked the governor’s claim that the data center could reduce water use or somehow return water to the lake, saying the explanation made little sense and lacked evidence. Others accused Cox of dishonesty, corruption, and downplaying concerns about the shrinking water supply. Some users also expanded the discussion into broader criticism of Utah politics, Republican leadership, MAGA supporters, and Senator Mike Lee.
The thread eventually turned into a wider debate over voting habits and generational politics, with users arguing about whether older voters, Gen X, millennials, or Gen Z were responsible for Utah’s political direction.
