Utah may seem far away from Delaware, but what is happening there should serve as a warning to every community.

A few weeks ago, officials in Box Elder County approved a massive artificial intelligence data center project covering more than 40,000 acres – more than twice the size of Manhattan. According to reporting in The Guardian, the proposed facility could consume more electricity than the entire state of Utah currently uses while placing enormous pressure on water supplies in an already stressed region. Thousands of residents objected, citing concerns about noise, pollution, environmental damage and the long-term transformation of their community.

At first glance, Delaware may appear insulated from such extreme projects, but that would be a mistake.

The AI boom is creating a nationwide race to build data centers. These facilities require vast amounts of land, electricity, cooling water, substations, transmission infrastructure and backup generation. States eager for tax revenue and economic development are increasingly competing to attract them. Once one state opens the door, others often follow.

Delaware’s location between major East Coast markets, its growing utility infrastructure and its relatively permissive development environment could make it an attractive target for future hyperscale data center proposals. Sussex County already faces mounting concerns over rapid growth, strained roads, water management, electrical capacity and loss of rural character. Adding energy-intensive data center campuses into that equation could dramatically intensify those pressures.

Supporters often promise jobs and technological progress. But the reality is more complicated. Large data centers typically create far fewer permanent jobs than traditional industrial or commercial development while consuming extraordinary amounts of power and water. Across the country, communities are increasingly questioning whether the tradeoffs are worth it.

The Utah controversy is important because it exposes what can happen when local governments become so focused on growth opportunities that they underestimate long-term infrastructure and environmental consequences. Once projects reach advanced stages, communities often discover they have little leverage left.

Delaware should not wait until a similar proposal arrives to begin asking difficult questions.

How much additional electrical demand can our grid absorb? Where will the water come from? Who pays for infrastructure upgrades? What happens to property values and quality of life? How much industrial-scale development are rural areas expected to absorb before residents finally say enough?

The canary in the coal mine used to warn miners of danger before it was too late. Utah may now be the canary in the data center mine. Delaware would be wise to pay attention.

David Stein
Lewes