Proposed AI Data Center Could Bring 670 Jobs to Cedar City Area

Iron County officials say the project would provide economic and tax benefits, but some residents have concerns about water and energy use.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 2:35am

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D illustration of a futuristic data center server rack, with neon cyan and magenta lights illuminating the intricate hardware components, conceptually representing the advanced infrastructure powering the proposed AI data center project.Cutting-edge data center technology could bring hundreds of jobs and economic benefits to the Cedar City region, but also raises concerns about environmental impact.Cedar City Today

Discussions have continued for a proposed AI data center located about 18 miles west of Cedar City. The Iron County Planning Commission said the project, titled the Antelope Data Center, could bring in 670 jobs directly at the facility. While some residents have concerns about water and energy use, county officials say the project would provide economic and tax benefits, including potentially lowering property tax rates by about 55%.

Why it matters

The proposed data center represents a significant economic development opportunity for the Cedar City area, potentially creating hundreds of high-paying jobs and boosting the local tax base. However, the project has raised concerns from some residents about its potential environmental impact, particularly around water and energy consumption.

The details

The Iron County Planning Commission met to review whether the Antelope Data Center project complies with county standards and conditions. Iron County Commissioner Mike Bleak, who was initially skeptical, said he is now "very in favor" of the data center after meeting with the developers and touring their facility in West Jordan. Bleak said the data center would use minimal water for cooling and generate its own electricity from a natural gas power plant, not pulling from the grid. While the data center would directly employ around 40-50 people, Bleak said there would be hundreds of contract jobs for technology work at the center.

  • The Iron County Planning Commission met on Thursday to review the project.
  • The data center's public hearing was held in March, with about 350 people attending.

The players

Iron County Planning Commission

The local government body reviewing the proposed Antelope Data Center project to ensure it complies with county standards and conditions.

Mike Bleak

An Iron County Commissioner who was initially skeptical of the data center project but is now "very in favor" of it after meeting with the developers and touring their facility.

Pronghorn Development LLC

The developers behind the proposed Antelope Data Center project.

Milton McClelland

A Cedar City resident who expressed concerns about the data center's water and energy use.

Southwest Tech

A local technical college that has met with the data center developers about involving students in the project.

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What they’re saying

“They're clean, they're efficient, they're safe. We would make sure that as part of that conditional use permit, that the facilities here would meet those same standards. We would not allow anyone to skimp on anything. I'm very in favor because I see the economic benefit and, especially, I see the tax benefit to our consumers.”

— Mike Bleak, Iron County Commissioner

“There's always concerns with any kind of center that comes in, right? Are they managing their own water? Are they disposing of their water properly?”

— Milton McClelland, Cedar City resident

“With technology catching up to where it is now, the water usage isn't really an issue. So, we're able to look at those projects here in the West because the water isn't an issue. Technology these days has really caught up to that, where very little to no water is used in the actual cooling. The majority of water used in modern-day data centers is culinary, for restrooms and sinks.”

— Mike Bleak, Iron County Commissioner

What’s next

The approval of the Antelope Data Center would be just the start of a long process, including meetings with county engineering, building, and planning departments, as well as complying with federal regulations.

The takeaway

The proposed AI data center represents a significant economic opportunity for the Cedar City area, but its development will require careful consideration of environmental impacts and ongoing engagement with the local community to address their concerns about water, energy use, and other potential issues.