HOLDEN, Millard County – A major technology and energy project is about to begin in Millard County.
A groundbreaking was held Thursday afternoon on what developers said could become one of the nation’s most advanced data centers.
Joule Capital Partners held the event just outside the town of Holden for the start of its new Joule Energy and Data Center Campus.
It’s a large-scale facility designed to support artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.
The company stated the project represents a significant investment in Utah’s energy and technology future, which could bring in new jobs, training opportunities and economic growth to rural Utah.
Unlike most data centers, which require large amounts of electricity from public utilities, Joule plans to produce its own power onsite rather than rely on the local power grid.
Company leaders said this approach will prevent strain on existing energy infrastructure and shield residents from higher power costs.
“It really takes away from resources that local residents need and increases energy costs for everybody else,” said Brock Andrus, co-CEO of Joule Capital Partners. “So we said, let’s create our own power production plants here on this beautiful 4,000 acres.”
The company plans to use natural gas to power the first phase of the project, with future phases expected to expand energy capacity as demand for AI grows.
Millard County Commissioner Bill Wright said the data center could help keep more young people in the county by providing high-paying technical jobs and new career paths.
“We look forward to taking new technologies and really molding them together with what we’re doing,” said Wright, who hopes the company will partner with local schools to create job training and apprenticeships.
Joel Ferry, executive director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources, said the project is the kind of development that can benefit rural communities.
“These data centers are now air cooled. They’re no longer water cooled, and so their water use drops down to minimal amounts. It’s the type of project that will bring jobs to rural Utah,” said Ferry.
Company representatives said they hope to begin initial energy production by the end of 2026, acknowledging the timeline is ambitious but achievable.
Thursday’s groundbreaking marks phase one, with additional phases planned over the coming years as AI technology evolves and data demands increase.
For a community long rooted in agriculture, the project marks a shift toward a new kind of growth, one fueled by data and innovation rather than crops and livestock.
“You need some kind of growth to survive these days,” said Commissioner Wright. “We like being in the middle of nowhere. We have traditions. We don’t want to really change our traditions, but we are looking forward. My experience with Joule and where they’re going is really a good and positive experience.”
Joule representatives said the demand for these types of data centers will only increase as artificial intelligence continues to grow.
Andrus feels the time to prepare for that growth is now.
“Today is a really special day not only for Joule, but for the community, the state, and frankly, for the United States,” said Andrus. “We can’t afford to fall behind. We really can’t. Not only as a state but as a country. It’s too important and we are doing everything in our power here at Joule on this 4,000 acre site to unleash the power of energy so that we can ensure that we have sovereign safe AI models that ensures the safety and protection of the United States citizens.”