Utah to Host 20MW Off-Grid Data Center Powered by On-Site Natural Gas
January 30, 2026
A significant shift in data center power strategy is emerging in the American West, as plans for a major off-grid facility in Utah highlight the industry's ongoing search for reliable and scalable energy solutions beyond the traditional electrical grid. The Summit Ridge Data Center, a project exceeding 20 megawatts (MW) in capacity, is planned for development on land at 15372 S. Ridge Farms Road in Santaquin, a city located approximately 65 miles south of Salt Lake City. The project is being developed by the Data Center Power Company, a firm specializing in behind-the-meter, islanded data center deployments. According to Santaquin Mayor Dan Olsen, the campus will not be connected to the public utility grid. "All power for the data center is generated on site with natural gas engines. It's all rated and controlled by the EPA," Olsen stated during a recent community meeting. The facility will also utilize a closed-loop cooling system. While the city approved the project's site plan in the summer of 2024, the development has recently drawn attention from local residents, many of whom reportedly became aware of it only this year. Mayor Olsen noted that 11 public meetings had been held on the topic, with the most recent occurring on January 6. A definitive start date for construction has not yet been announced. The project represents a notable example of the "behind-the-meter" trend, where large energy consumers generate their own power on-site. For the data center industry, which faces immense pressure to expand capacity for AI and cloud computing while managing grid constraints and sustainability goals, such off-grid models offer a path to rapid deployment and power certainty. However, reliance on fossil fuel-based generation, even if EPA-compliant, presents a complex trade-off between operational independence and environmental impact, setting the stage for continued debate on the sector's energy future. Source: datacenterdynamics
