Power and the grid
- Rocky Mountain Power (PacifiCorp) grid Capacity not confirmedthe utility's early assurance of capacity for phase one no longer appears to hold (city record, Feb. 2025); no service agreement or MW is public Local government · Oct. 2026
- On-site generation (allowed, none specified) Allowed, not planned in detailthe city's Feb. 2025 amendment allows it as an accessory use; QTS calls it a last resort; type and size are not on record Local government · Oct. 2026
Getting on the grid
Who supplies what, what it costs, and what is still not public.
- July 18, 2023Utility assured capacity for phase oneAt the city's approval, QTS had Rocky Mountain Power's assurance of enough capacity for the first phase. Local government · Oct. 2026
- Feb. 4, 2025City allows on-site generationCouncil votes 5 to 0 to let QTS build on-site power as an accessory use, noting the assurance no longer appears to hold. see Permits
- Oct. 29, 2025Construction resumes after a delayThe city says work restarted after a pause to make sure energy infrastructure and resources were in place. Local government · Oct. 2025
- Utah law (SB 132) requires commission approval of any contract with a load of 100 MW or more, and the customer bears incremental costs. Company · Oct. 2026
- QTS says it prefers grid power and uses on-site generation as a last resort. Any backup diesel units named in the air filing are emergency equipment, not supply. Local government · Feb. 2026
- The state commission regulates utility contracts; the city, not the commission, decides zoning. Local government · Feb. 2026
Evidence from space
NO2 over the site, net of the rural background, was somewhat higher in July–September 2026 (7 µmol/m²) than a year earlier (6), but the change is within normal swings at this level; the rural background stayed flat (about 16 both summers). The satellite sees no new combustion large enough to stand out here. This campus shares its satellite box with a neighboring campus at the same site.
What else could explain it
- The box takes in the fast-growing town of Eagle Mountain. Winter inversions trap valley air, which is why winter months spike at the site but not in the open desert.
- Weather moves NO2 from day to day (wind, sunlight, cloud), and it builds up in winter. Subtracting the background box and comparing the same season a year apart removes most of that.
How this works: the Sentinel-5P satellite measures NO2 in the air over every point on Earth once a day, around 1:30 p.m. local time, in pixels about 5.5 by 3.5 km. NO2 comes from burning fuel (turbines, engines, traffic, power plants), so a rise over a site that open country does not share points to new combustion there. It shows combustion activity, not megawatts. The site box is about 15 km across; the background box is open country about 67 km away. We use only high-quality readings and drop days or weeks when cloud hides more than half of either box. Data: Copernicus Sentinel-5P (ESA), processed with the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem Sentinel Hub statistics service.
Permits checklist
2 pending · 3 granted · 1 checked, nothing on file
- ◷Rezone of 524 acres to the technology overlay PendingEagle Mountain City Council · Feb. 10, 2026: planning commission recommended approval unanimously, which is only a recommendation; council action not found Local government · Feb. 2026
- ◷Air approval order PendingUtah Division of Air Quality · April 22, 2026: notice of intent received; draft under review Oct. 7, 2026 State agency · Oct. 2026
- ✓Development agreement GrantedEagle Mountain City Council · July 18, 2023: for a project next to the Meta campus Local government · Feb. 2025
- ✓Amendment allowing on-site power generation GrantedEagle Mountain City Council · Feb. 4, 2025: approved 5 to 0 Local government · Feb. 2025
- ✓Extended construction hours GrantedEagle Mountain City Council · March 25, 2026: approved 4 to 0 Local government · March 2026
- –Checked, nothing on file: Building permit
What could slow it down
- HighUtility power not confirmedThe utility's promise of capacity for phase one no longer appears to hold, and no service contract is public. Local government · Oct. 2026
- MediumRezone not finalOnly the planning commission has acted; council adoption of the 524-acre rezone was not found. see Permits
- MediumResident concernResidents and commissioners raised grid impact, energy prices and data center taxes at 2025 and 2026 hearings. Local government · Feb. 2026
- WatchNo tenant namedQTS markets colocation space and has not said who will lease it. Company · Oct. 2026
- WatchAir permit pendingThe state has issued no approval order as of Oct. 7, 2026. see Permits
Money on record
What happened, and what is due
- July 18, 2023Permits City signs a development agreement with QTS next to the Meta campus Local government · Feb. 2025
- Oct. 2024Construction City newsletter reports QTS has broken ground on initial site work Local government · Oct. 2024
- Feb. 4, 2025Power Council approves on-site power generation as an accessory use; the city record says the utility's earlier capacity assurance no longer appears to hold Local government · Feb. 2025
- Oct. 2025Construction Main construction under way; official groundbreaking held (work began Sept. 2025) Company · Oct. 2026
- Oct. 29, 2025Construction City says construction resumed after a brief delay for energy infrastructure Local government · Oct. 2025
- Feb. 10, 2026Permits Planning commission recommends the 524-acre rezone to the council Local government · Feb. 2026
- March 25, 2026Permits Council approves extended construction hours Local government · March 2026
- April 17, 2026Construction Third of five buildings topped out Company · Oct. 2026
- April 22, 2026Permits Air notice of intent received by the state State agency · Oct. 2026
- Oct. 7, 2026Permits State still reviewing draft air permit documents State agency · Oct. 2026
Building activity by quarter
Since Sept. 2025: 6 FAA filings (Sept. 2025 to Sept. 2026): tallest permanent structure 80 ft (filed Dec. 2025).
Specs
- Closed-loop cooling: QTS says no water is drawn for cooling once operating Local government · Oct. 2025
Owners, partners and builders
- QTS Data Centers: developer and operator
- Blackstone funds: own QTS
- Eagle Mountain City Council and Planning Commission: agreement, rezone, hours
- Utah Division of Air Quality: air approval order
- Utah Public Service Commission: large-load contracts
- Rocky Mountain Power (PacifiCorp): serving utility
- Layton Construction: general contractor
Open questions
- Whether the utility will serve phase one and how many megawatts.
- Council action on the 524-acre rezone.
- Tenant and operating date.
- Equipment in the air permit.
121 records from 23 documents
Drawn from local government records, news reports, company statements, state agency records and public and commercial datasets, each kept with its date and source. The bar shows documents by type.
Every quote behind this page
Grade key: A = the primary record itself (permit, filing, exhibit) · B = a dated official statement · C = news reporting. Map distances are our own measurements on OpenStreetMap and carry no grade. Allegations in lawsuits are marked as such in the quotes.
Power (17)
- Address: 1331 Virtual Drive, Eagle Mountain, UT 84005“a quorum of the Eagle Mountain City Council may be present on Friday, April 17, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at QTS SLC1 Substation located at 1331 Virtual Drive, Eagle Mountain, UT”Local government · April 2026 · grade A
- Substations on-site: 1 (QTS SLC1 Substation, 1331 Virtual Drive)“a quorum of the Eagle Mountain City Council may be present on Friday, April 17, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at QTS SLC1 Substation located at 1331 Virtual Drive, Eagle Mountain, UT”Local government · April 2026 · grade A
- Power plan: grid“QTS prefers to get power from the grid and uses on-site generation as a last resort.”Local government · Feb. 2026 · grade A
- Opposition: resident and commissioner concern over grid impact, energy prices and data-center taxes, raised at the Feb 4, 2025 council meeting and the Feb 10, 2026 Planning Commission hearing“Joy Rasmussen, Elane and Troy Wariner, and Lana Wariner sent in public comments. Todd Crowther and Jeff Ruth made public comments.”Local government · Feb. 2026 · grade A
- Utility: Rocky Mountain Power (PacifiCorp)“At the time of approval, QTS had received assurances from Rocky Mountain Power that sufficient electrical capacity would be available to serve the first phase of the project; however, that no longer appears to be the case.”Local government · Feb. 2025 · grade A
- Nearest substation of 345 kV or more: 0.622 kmMeasured on OpenStreetMap map data.
- Nearest power line of 345 kV or more: 0.652 kmMeasured on OpenStreetMap map data.
- Nearest gas pipeline: 3.051 kmMeasured on OpenStreetMap map data.
- IT capacity: not stated“Campus Size: 193 acres”Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Utility service: not stated“At the time of approval, QTS had received assurances from Rocky Mountain Power that sufficient electrical capacity would be available to serve the first phase of the project; however, that no longer appears to be the case.”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Stated campus size: not stated“QTS Investment: $6 billion”Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- On-site generation: not stated“QTS prefers to get power from the grid and uses on-site generation as a last resort.”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- NOT ADOPTED - project-input record of Epoch AI's tracker figures for QTS Eagle Mountain (planned facility 411 MW, 0 MW current, full-build July 1, 2027, status as of May 2, 2026). Third-party tracker estimates never enter M“Y: QTS Eagle Mountain,411,0,2027-07-01”grade C
- NOT ADOPTED - the University of Utah pipeline inventory figure (~650 MW for QTS Eagle Mountain II, basis unstated) appears in project inputs as a second-hand estimate“only figure in any source checked is ~650 MW in a University of Utah pipeline inventory[E], basis unstated; not adopted”grade C
- Tract working with Rocky Mountain Power to deliver more than 400 MW by 2028)“Tract said it is working with Rocky Mountain Power to deliver more than 400MW via new transmission infrastructure by 2028.”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Interconnection status: Rocky Mountain Power (PacifiCorp) service secured per a QTS spokesperson (reported Feb 2026): QTS secured power from Rocky Mountain instead of building the Eagle Mountain City Council-approved 20-“QTS Data Centers received approval from the Eagle Mountain City Council to build a 20-acre, 200-megawatt gas plant last year, although a company spokesperson said it secured power from Rocky Mountain instead.”News report · Feb. 2026 · grade C
- Eagle Mountain City Council approved a 20-acre, 200 MW on-site gas plant for QTS, but a QTS spokesperson said the company secured Rocky Mountain Power service instead“QTS Data Centers received approval from the Eagle Mountain City Council to build a 20-acre, 200-megawatt gas plant last year, although a company spokesperson said it secured power from Rocky Mountain instead.”News report · Feb. 2026 · grade C
Money and contracts (19)
- development agreement: termination MISSING-CLAUSE FINDING: no termination clause text for the Development Agreement or the First Amendment appears in the minutes or notices reviewed; the agreement text itself is not publ“The approved Development Agreement states that any property acquired by QTS is subject to the approved Agreement.”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- development agreement: term MISSING-CLAUSE FINDING: no term, duration or expiry for the Development Agreement is stated in the opened records“The approved Development Agreement states that any property acquired by QTS is subject to the approved Agreement.”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- development agreement: capacity commitment MISSING-CLAUSE FINDING: no MW, capacity or load commitment appears in the Development Agreement as recorded in city minutes; the only MW figure ever attached to the site (200 MW“At the time of approval, QTS had received assurances from Rocky Mountain Power that sufficient electrical capacity would be available to serve the first phase of the project; however, that no longer appears to be the case.”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- development agreement - First Amendment: energy limits The Development Agreement includes energy production, but not nuclear power (city staff summary to the Planning Commission, Feb 10, 2026)“the Development Agreement with QTS includes energy production, but not nuclear power.”Local government · Feb. 2026 · grade A
- development agreement: expansion (Section 4.8) Agreement applies to any real property within city limits adjacent and contiguous to the Property (or separated only by roads, public rights of way, easements or similar rig“This Agreement is hereby adopted and approved by the City to apply to any real property within the municipal limits of the City that is adjacent and contiguous to the property”Local government · Feb. 2026 · grade A
- Announced: July 18, 2023“On July 18, 2023, the City entered into a Development Agreement with QTS for a data center project located adjacent to the Facebook data center property.”Local government · Feb. 2025 · grade A
- development agreement: execution Development Agreement entered into July 18, 2023“On July 18, 2023, the City entered into a Development Agreement with QTS for a data center project located adjacent to the Facebook data center property.”Local government · Feb. 2025 · grade A
- development agreement: scope Data-center project located adjacent to the Facebook (Meta) data center property“On July 18, 2023, the City entered into a Development Agreement with QTS for a data center project located adjacent to the Facebook data center property.”Local government · Feb. 2025 · grade A
- development agreement: power supply assurance At approval, QTS had received Rocky Mountain Power assurances of sufficient electrical capacity to serve the first phase; by Feb 2025 that no longer appeared to be the case“At the time of approval, QTS had received assurances from Rocky Mountain Power that sufficient electrical capacity would be available to serve the first phase of the project; however, that no longer appears to be the case.”Local government · Feb. 2025 · grade A
- development agreement - First Amendment: amendment approval Resolution approving the First Amendment adopted unanimously (5:0) on Feb 4, 2025“Councilmember Gray moved to approve a Resolution Approving the First Amendment to the QTS Eagle Mountain Development Agreement. Councilmember Wood seconded the motion.”Local government · Feb. 2025 · grade A
- development agreement - First Amendment: scope Allows on-site power generation as an accessory use to support the project's viability“the parties are proposing an amendment to the Development Agreement to allow on-site power generation as an accessory use to support the project's viability.”Local government · Feb. 2025 · grade A
- Tenants: not stated“The Eagle Mountain campus will support more than 2,000 construction jobs and more than 100 permanent, high-quality jobs once operational, including roles from QTS, customers and contractors.”Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Tenant status: no tenant announced; colocation capacity marketed by operator“The Eagle Mountain campus will support more than 2,000 construction jobs and more than 100 permanent, high-quality jobs once operational, including roles from QTS, customers and contractors.”Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Original target date: not stated“QTS Investment: $6 billion”Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Current target date: not stated“QTS Investment: $6 billion”Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Utah PSC Docket 26-035-05: PacifiCorp's first SB 132 large-load contract - executed Jan 20, 2026, filed Feb 10, 2026, order approving Apr 10, 2026 - with an unnamed large-load customer. Attribution to QTS is not establis“January 20, 2026 - Contract executed with large load customer; February 10, 2026 - Application for approval of contract filed with commission (Docket No. 26-035-05).”Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Operator: QTS Data Centers“The Eagle Mountain campus will support more than 2,000 construction jobs and more than 100 permanent, high-quality jobs once operational, including roles from QTS, customers and contractors.”Company · April 2026 · grade B
- Stated capital cost: 6 billion USD“QTS Investment: $6 billion”Company · April 2026 · grade B
- Owner: Blackstone funds (acquired QTS Realty Trust Aug 31, 2021)“Datacentre operator QTS Realty Trust has been sold to investment firm Blackstone, in a deal valued at approximately $10 billion.”News report · Aug. 2021 · grade C
Permits and government (17)
- air quality approval order (NSR): NOI received“Quality Technology Services (QTS)- North Virtual Drive Data Center | Utah | N163420002 | Dungan Adams | 2026-04-22”State agency · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- air quality approval order (NSR): status update“Reviewing Draft Permitting Documents”State agency · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- extended construction hours: approved (4:0)“A Resolution of Eagle Mountain City, Utah, Authorizing Extended Hours for Construction Operations for QTS - SLC1 as Allowed in Eagle Mountain Municipal Code Section 8.15.080(G).”Local government · March 2026 · grade A
- Eagle Mountain City Council: 13.A Resolution authorizing extended hours for construction operations for QTS - SLC1 (EMMC 8.15.080(G))“A Resolution of Eagle Mountain City, Utah, Authorizing Extended Hours for Construction Operations for QTS - SLC1 as Allowed in Eagle Mountain Municipal Code Section 8.15.080(G).”Local government · March 2026 · grade A
- Rezoning date: Feb. 10, 2026“Commissioner Strong moved to recommend approval to the City Council of Item 7.E., QTS-SCL 2 Rezone.”Local government · Feb. 2026 · grade A
- rezone (RTI overlay): recommended approval to City Council (unanimous)“Commissioner Strong moved to recommend approval to the City Council of Item 7.E., QTS-SCL 2 Rezone.”Local government · Feb. 2026 · grade A
- Eagle Mountain Planning Commission: 7.E QTS-SCL 2 Rezone (eight parcels, 524 acres, to the RTI overlay zone)“QTS owns the eight parcels in this request, which encompass 524 acres.”Local government · Feb. 2026 · grade A
- FAA OE/AAA: Determined - No Hazard“The proposed building is a 529 299 square foot data center with adjacent office storage and critical power support spaces. This will be a single-story building with no penthouse structures.”FAA · Sept. 2025 · grade A
- FAA OE/AAA: Determined - No Hazard“The proposed building is a 529 299 square foot data center with adjacent office storage and critical power support spaces. This will be a single-story building with no penthouse structures.”FAA · Sept. 2025 · grade A
- FAA OE/AAA: Determined - No Hazard“This is a correction to previously submitted 7460-1 case with ASN: 2025-ANM-5850-OE. The proposed building is a 529 299 square foot data center with adjacent office storage and critical power support spaces. This will be a single-story building with no”FAA · Sept. 2025 · grade A
- FAA OE/AAA: Determined - No Hazard“The proposed building is a 529 299 square foot data center with adjacent office storage and critical power support spaces. This will be a single-story building with no penthouse structures.”FAA · Sept. 2025 · grade A
- development agreement: approved / entered into“On July 18, 2023, the City entered into a Development Agreement with QTS for a data center project located adjacent to the Facebook data center property.”Local government · Feb. 2025 · grade A
- development agreement amendment (on-site generation accessory use): approved (resolution, unanimous 5:0)“the parties are proposing an amendment to the Development Agreement to allow on-site power generation as an accessory use to support the project's viability.”Local government · Feb. 2025 · grade A
- Eagle Mountain City Council: 13.C Resolution Approving the First Amendment to the QTS Eagle Mountain Development Agreement“the parties are proposing an amendment to the Development Agreement to allow on-site power generation as an accessory use to support the project's viability.”Local government · Feb. 2025 · grade A
- Utah SB 132 (2025): a utility may serve a large load of 100 MW or more only under a contract approved by the Public Service Commission (the customer bears incremental costs; existing ratepayers must not bear costs attrib“SB132 creates requirements for utilities to provide electrical service to largescale electrical loads (100 MW or greater), passed in March 2025.”Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- FAA OE/AAA determinations: Determined - No Hazard“"QTS SLC2 DATA CENTER 1" | Commercial Use Building | AGL 36 | 40.27308,-112.0313 | submitted 09/10/2026 | Determined - No Hazard”FAA · Sept. 2026 · grade B
- FAA OE/AAA determinations: Determined - No Hazard“"SLC1 Eagle Mountain Substation" | AGL 80 | 40.2637,-112.02564 | submitted 12/29/2025 | Determined - No Hazard”FAA · Dec. 2025 · grade B
Site and other (25)
- County code: Utah County, UT (49049)“North Virtual Drive | Eagle Mountain | UT | 84005”State agency · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Code names: SLC1“A Resolution of Eagle Mountain City, Utah, Authorizing Extended Hours for Construction Operations for QTS - SLC1 as Allowed in Eagle Mountain Municipal Code Section 8.15.080(G).”Local government · March 2026 · grade A
- Parcel IDs: 59:055:0002; 59:055:0005; 59:055:0010; 59:055:0013; 59:055:0016; 59:055:0017; 59:055:0021; 59:058:0004“QTS-SLC 2 Rezone: Rezone of Parcels 59:055:0002, 59:055:0005, 59:055:0010, 59:055:0013, 59:055:0016, 59:055:0017, 59:055:0021, and 59:058:0004”Local government · Feb. 2026 · grade A
- Acres: 524 acres“QTS owns the eight parcels in this request, which encompass 524 acres.”Local government · Feb. 2026 · grade A
- Name: QTS Eagle Mountain“QTS, a nationwide developer specializing in colocation data centers, is moving forward with the next phase of its state-of-the-art facilities just west of the Meta campus.”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Construction stage: building“Work began in September 2025, with an official groundbreaking in October 2025.”Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Stage: Phase 1 (5 buildings, 193 acres) under vertical construction; third building topped out Apr 17, 2026; nothing operational; no COD published“Work began in September 2025, with an official groundbreaking in October 2025.”Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Campus name: SLC1“the topping out of the third building at the QTS data center campus in Eagle Mountain, Utah (SLC1)”Company · April 2026 · grade B
- Construction milestone: third building topped out; milestone ceremony Apr 17, 2026“Layton Construction and QTS Data Centers (QTS) reached a major construction milestone with the topping out of the third building at the QTS data center campus in Eagle Mountain, Utah (SLC1).”Company · April 2026 · grade B
- Construction start: work began September 2025; official groundbreaking October 2025“Work began in September 2025, with an official groundbreaking in October 2025.”Company · April 2026 · grade B
- Cooling: closed-loop cooling; does not consume water for cooling once operational“Conserving water by using a closed-loop cooling system that does not draw from local water resources and does not consume water for cooling, once operational”Company · April 2026 · grade B
- Project status: under construction (first phase: five buildings on ~193 acres; third building topped out Apr 17, 2026)“Layton Construction and QTS Data Centers celebrated the topping out of the third building at the QTS data center campus in Eagle Mountain.”Company · April 2026 · grade B
- Acres: 193 acres“Campus Size: 193 acres”Company · April 2026 · grade B
- Buildings: 5“Development Scope: 5 buildings”Company · April 2026 · grade B
- Water use stated: no water consumption for cooling once operational (closed-loop)“the QTS data center campus will use a closed-loop cooling system that continuously recirculates water rather than drawing from local sources, once operational.”Company · April 2026 · grade B
- Jobs signal (company release): the Eagle Mountain project has created more than 2,000 construction jobs in Utah and more than 100 permanent roles once fully operational.“the project has created over 2,000 construction jobs in Utah and will support more than 100 permanent roles once fully operational.”Company · April 2026 · grade B
- Developer: QTS Data Centers“QTS, a nationwide developer specializing in colocation data centers, is moving forward with the next phase of its state-of-the-art facilities just west of the Meta campus.”Local government · Oct. 2025 · grade B
- Cooling: closed-loop (water-free) cooling“the QTS facility will use advanced technology that eliminates water from the cooling process entirely.”Local government · Oct. 2025 · grade B
- City of Eagle Mountain: construction resumed after a brief delay to ensure the necessary energy infrastructure and resources were in place; the City puts the buildout at 2,000 to 3,000 construction jobs over time and 100“Construction resumed after a brief delay to ensure the necessary energy infrastructure and resources were in place.”Local government · Oct. 2025 · grade B
- City newsletter: QTS broke ground in fall 2024 on the campus just west of the Meta campus (initial site work, before the Sep-Oct 2025 main construction phase documented by Layton/QTS - see conflicts).“QTS, a leading builder and operator of colocation datacenters, recently broke ground on its latest project.”Local government · Oct. 2024 · grade B
- Announced: April 18, 2023“This project area is being established for a datacenter development. The company, QTS, intends building up to 6 buildings on the initial 100 acres.”Local government · April 2023 · grade B
- Site acres: 489.86 acres“59:058:0006 Eagle Mountain Data Center CAM 389.92; 59:058:0005 QTS Eagle Mountain I LLC 99.94; Total 489.86”State agency · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Construction stage: under construction - THIRD building topped out Apr 17, 2026 per the QTS/Layton release (the queue lead said first building - see conflict row); a five-building first phase is reported in the NAR 2026“Layton Construction and QTS Data Centers (QTS) reached a major construction milestone with the topping out of the third building at the QTS data center campus in Eagle Mountain, Utah (SLC1).”Company · April 2026 · grade C
- Planned scale: up to six buildings across nearly 500 acres“QTS is developing a campus adjacent to Meta's campus in the Utah city, located south of Salt Lake City. The site could host up to six buildings across nearly 500 acres.”News report · April 2026 · grade C
- Hoax bomb threat at the Eagle Mountain site on Friday, April 10, 2026: all personnel were evacuated as a precaution, law enforcement searched the site and issued the all clear, and regular operations resumed (QTS stateme“Law enforcement investigated a reported bomb threat at our Eagle Mountain site on Friday, April 10.”News report · April 2026 · grade C