Utah & U.S. Environment News

Amid intense Box Elder County data center debate, another energy plan quietly edges ahead

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UDOT finalizes its plan to handle travel in Big Cottonwood Canyon

UDOT finalizes its plan to handle travel in Big Cottonwood Canyon

Carter Williams, KSL  |  Posted May 13 - 3:11 p.m.  |  Save Story

Utah transportation officials have finalized a plan to gradually increase ski bus service and eventually introduce tolling in Big Cottonwood Canyon.
Box Elder County data center debate intensifies as foes, supporters trade barbs

Box Elder County data center debate intensifies as foes, supporters trade barbs

Tim Vandenack, KSL  |  Posted May 13 - 6:15 a.m.  |  Save Story

The debate over a proposed Box Elder County data center is intensifying, with foes and supporters trading barbs and redoubling their efforts.
Bureau of Land Management just rescinded this public lands rule

Bureau of Land Management just rescinded this public lands rule

Kevin Lind, Deseret News  |  Posted May 12 - 9:33 p.m.  |  Save Story

On Monday, the Bureau of Land Management issued a new rule "fully rescinding" the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule of May 2024.
Utah increases fishing limits at 2 reservoirs affected by subpar snowpack

Utah increases fishing limits at 2 reservoirs affected by subpar snowpack

Carter Williams, KSL  |  Posted May 12 - 7:34 p.m.  |  Save Story

Utah wildlife officials are implementing emergency fishing measures at a pair of reservoirs in the state over low reservoir levels.
Officials issue public notice to rid yards of 'noxious weeds'

Officials issue public notice to rid yards of 'noxious weeds'

Arianne Brown, KSL  |  Posted May 11 - 9:00 p.m.  |  Save Story

Counties across the state are telling property owners to rid yards of noxious weeds under the Utah Noxious Weed Act.
Dead fish, algal blooms and E. coli: More attention turns to the Jordan River's water quality

Dead fish, algal blooms and E. coli: More attention turns to the Jordan River's water quality

Jose Davila IV, The Salt Lake Tribune  |  Posted May 11 - 10:18 a.m.  |  Save Story

The Jordan River, which delivers water to the Great Salt Lake, has long struggled with pollution.
Greenbike nears its 1 millionth ride — and it's looking forward to many more

Greenbike nears its 1 millionth ride — and it's looking forward to many more

Carter Williams, KSL  |  Posted May 9 - 9:03 p.m.  |  Save Story

Following a robust 2025, Utah's only nonprofit bike share program finds itself nearing a major milestone, a little more than a decade in the making.
New Utah law raises concerns for those who oppose Box Elder County data center plans

New Utah law raises concerns for those who oppose Box Elder County data center plans

Mike Anderson, KSL  |  Posted May 9 - 6:29 p.m.  |  Save Story

A new Utah law could add to the challenges faced by several thousand people who wish to oppose plans for a hyperscale data center in Box Elder County.
Cox stresses efforts to protect Great Salt Lake amid intense data center debate

Cox stresses efforts to protect Great Salt Lake amid intense data center debate

Tim Vandenack, KSL  |  Posted May 8 - 9:02 p.m.  |  Save Story

Gov. Spencer Cox reinserted himself into the intense debate over a Box Elder County data center project, stressing efforts meant to protect the Great Salt Lake.
Box Elder data center organizers withdraw water rights application, nulling protest letters

Box Elder data center organizers withdraw water rights application, nulling protest letters

Tim Vandenack, KSL and Heather Peterson, KSL  |  Posted May 8 - 8:45 a.m.  |  Save Story

A water rights application was withdrawn for a controversial data center proposed in Box Elder County, which compromises over 3,800 letters filed in protest against the application.
Lake Powell projected to have worst snowmelt on record; Utah rivers not far behind

Lake Powell projected to have worst snowmelt on record; Utah rivers not far behind

Carter Williams, KSL  |  Posted May 7 - 9:47 p.m.  |  Save Story

Federal hydrologists now project that Lake Powell could receive its worst natural snowmelt inflows since it was established in the 1960s.
Box Elder County data center opponents pursuing ballot initative to challenge plans

Box Elder County data center opponents pursuing ballot initative to challenge plans

Tim Vandenack, KSL  |  Updated May 7 - 5:27 p.m.  |  Save Story

Foes of the Box Elder County data center proposal are pursuing a ballot initiative to challenge the controversial plans, though details of the effort are still emerging.
Brazil's Lula visits Trump in Washington seeking to avert new US trade tariffs

Brazil's Lula visits Trump in Washington seeking to avert new US trade tariffs

Lisandra Paraguassu, Humeyra Pamuk and David Lawder, Reuters  |  Posted May 7 - 3:32 p.m.  |  Save Story

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva held talks at the White House on Thursday with President Donald ​Trump that were expected to focus on trade, security and critical minerals.
Ogden opts to take part in renewable energy program, joining 6 other Utah locales

Ogden opts to take part in renewable energy program, joining 6 other Utah locales

Tim Vandenack, KSL  |  Posted May 7 - 10:00 a.m.  |  Save Story

Ogden officials voted to take part in the Community Renewable Energy Program, meant to bolster use of clean energy, joining six other Utah locales.
Scientists raise concerns over hyperscale data center impact on ecology

Scientists raise concerns over hyperscale data center impact on ecology

Mike Anderson, KSL  |  Posted May 7 - 8:40 a.m.  |  Save Story

With dozens of questions lingering around how a 60-square-mile data center campus would operate, some scientists are raising concerns over what they see as likely detrimental impacts.
Provo moves on potential conservation easement at mouth of Slate Canyon

Provo moves on potential conservation easement at mouth of Slate Canyon

Cassidy Wixom, KSL  |  Posted May 6 - 10:35 p.m.  |  Save Story

Provo is moving to potentially place 115 acres near Slate Canyon into a conservation easement.
Shared ground: Coalition forms to promote affordable housing on public lands

Shared ground: Coalition forms to promote affordable housing on public lands

Kevin Lind, Deseret News  |  Posted May 6 - 8:33 p.m.  |  Save Story

In the wake of several efforts to use public lands to develop affordable housing last year, advocates formed a coalition to determine what it would take to make that goal a reality.
These new laws took effect in Utah on Wednesday

These new laws took effect in Utah on Wednesday

Bridger Beal-Cvetko, KSL  |  Posted May 6 - 4:48 p.m.  |  Save Story

A majority of the 541 laws approved by the Utah Legislature this year took effect Wednesday.
Box Elder County official faced death threats amid contentious data center debate

Box Elder County official faced death threats amid contentious data center debate

Tim Vandenack, KSL  |  Posted May 6 - 10:50 a.m.  |  Save Story

Box Elder County Commissioner Lee Perry said he faced death threats as the data center debate in the county unfolded and defended his action allowing the project to proceed.