After data center debacle, Gov. Cox says MIDA has had ‘mission creep’ and needs ‘major reform’

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said Utah elected leaders have delegated much of their land use and taxing authority to the non-elected Military Installation Development Authority — the powerful independent state body that went from obscurity to infamy this summer after it gave an initial green light to the highly controversial Stratos data center project in Box Elder County. 

When asked about data centers during a televised news conference hosted by PBS Utah on Thursday, Cox said the process surrounding the Stratos project “was not good, and the MIDA process especially.” 

That’s why the governor said he’s supportive of changes to MIDA.

“I think we need major reform when it comes to MIDA, and I will be pushing for that reform again,” Cox said. 

The governor told reporters that he proposed changes to MIDA nearly two years ago, in 2025, but they never passed. A spokesperson for the governor did not immediately return a response to a question asking for more details about those past proposed changes. 

When asked what specific changes he would like to see for MIDA, Cox said state leaders, the Office of Economic Development and the governor “should play a bigger role in understanding what projects are going through.” 

“We have a lot of independent entities in this state, and they’re great. They play a very important role. But we’ve also delegated a lot of authority there, and the people are going to hold us accountable for what those entities do,” Cox said. “We need to make sure that we have insight and some say in what it is they’re doing, what projects they’re taking on. And are they the right projects for our state?”

Cox pointed to other independent agencies the Utah Legislature has created, including the Point of the Mountain Land Authority — which is tasked with overseeing the development of 600 acres of prime real estate at the site of the former Utah State Prison in Draper. He also pointed to the Utah Fairpark Area Investment and Restoration District, which has taxing, bonding and land use authority to facilitate development of a Major League Baseball stadium in and around Salt Lake City’s Fairpark neighborhood. 

“There are a lot of these authorities that have come up to do really important projects,” Cox said. 

But he said MIDA “in particular” has seen “a little mission creep with what their initial responsibilities were and goals were.” 

“And that may be OK,” Cox added. “We may support all of that. But we, the elected officials of the state, should be able to have a little bit more of a say in what happens there.” 

In June, Utah State Auditor Tina Cannon launched an online dashboard showing financial activity and other publicly available information about MIDA. It also painted a picture showing how since lawmakers first created MIDA in 2007, its powers have grown, enabling it to create project areas across the state — some with a clear tie to its original mission to facilitate military development, but also some public infrastructure districts with a focus on recreation, tourism and hospitality. 

While it’s not clear exactly what past legislative changes Cox was referring to when he said he previously pushed reforms to MIDA, there was one bill considered in 2025 and backed by the governor that would have created the Beehive Development Authority. 

That bill stalled amid bipartisan pushback and concerns around too much consolidation of government power. But had it passed, the Beehive Development Authority would have been tasked with “coordinating” with other state bodies that had broad land, bonding and taxing authority, including MIDA, the Utah Inland Port Authority, the Point of the Mountain State Land Authority, and others. 

In response to Cox’s comments Thursday, Kristin Kennedy Williams, a MIDA spokesperson, issued a prepared statement welcoming any discussion on future reforms. 

“As a State-created entity formed in 2007 to further military initiatives and economic development, MIDA is not a policy maker, and MIDA is of course subject to state statutes,” Kennedy Williams said. “We’re always happy to engage with the Governor and his team.”

Amid outrage over the Stratos project — backed by celebrity investor Kevin O’Leary of TV’s “Shark Tank” — MIDA officials have said they’ve pushed pause on the Stratos project. Litigation over a referendum challenging the Box Elder County Commission’s vote to consent to the MIDA project area has also complicated the future of the data center — but O’Leary said in June “we are full steam ahead on the project and even more optimistic about the economic benefits it will bring to Utah,” The Salt Lake Tribune reported at the time.  

Currently, MIDA is governed by an eight-member board with seven voting members and one none-voting member from the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, meant to represent sectors ranging from military affairs, the Legislature, economic development and local government. 

Under Utah law, the governor currently appoints five members, while the Utah Senate president and Utah House Speaker each appoint one board member. 

Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, has long served as a MIDA board member and chair. Outrage over the Stratos data center project was a key factor in his primary election loss in June against his Republican challenger, Stephanie Hollist. 

In an interview with Utah News Dispatch last month, Adams said “I’m not sure” when asked whether he would continue serving on the MIDA board after he exits the Legislature at the end of the year. 

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