Information regarding Utah Governor Spencer Cox and a controversial data center project involves his family's long-standing business, CentraCom.
Here are the key details based on reports as of early May 2026: Family Connection: Spencer Cox’s father, Eddie Cox, is the President of CentraCom, a Utah-based telecommunications company. A cousin, I. Branch Cox, serves as CEO.
The Project: The controversy centers on a massive 9-gigawatt "hyperscale" data center project in Box Elder County, which is being backed by Kevin O'Leary's O'Leary Digital.
Allegations and Ties: Online reports and critics have pointed to the fact that CentraCom, managed by the Governor's father and cousin, is involved in providing the infrastructure (fiber networks) for this, or similar, massive data center projects.
Role of CentraCom: CentraCom has grown significantly, becoming the second-largest fiber network in the state, with its growth tracking with Gov. Cox’s political rise.
Conflict of Interest Concerns: While critics allege a conflict of interest, reports indicate that Spencer Cox has not owned a stake in CentraCom since he divested from the firm when it was purchased by LICT Corporation in 2001.
Gov. Cox's Position: Gov. Cox has publicly defended the project, stating that the state has an "obligation" to allow these data centers to be built for national security and economic reasons.The project has faced public scrutiny over concerns regarding water usage and energy consumption.