A proposed “hyperscale” data center in Box Elder County is prompting widespread public concern, while state officials and the center’s celebrity backer say it will create thousands of jobs and help to save the Great Salt Lake.

But amidst the outcry, the district’s two top Republican congressional candidates — including northern Utah’s incumbent U.S. Rep. Blake Moore — have thus far refused to weigh in.

Asked for comment or an interview regarding the proposed data center in his district, a spokesperson for Moore said the lawmaker had no comment, while a campaign spokesperson never responded.

And Clearfield Republican state Rep. Karianne Lisonbee, who is challenging Moore in the primary election this summer, also did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Moore currently represents the 1st Congressional District and is running for reelection in the newly drawn 2nd District. Lisonbee, on Saturday, won the official 2nd District endorsement of the state’s Republican delegates. As Moore gathered signatures from voters, both candidates will appear on the primary ballot in June.

The data center, backed by celebrity investor Kevin O’Leary of TV’s “Shark Tank,” would both generate and consume more power than the entire state currently uses, necessitating an expected three gigawatts of power in its first phase and nine once fully built out. On average, the state uses around four gigawatts of power.

It has already been approved by Utah’s Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA), but requires the approval of the county commissioners to officially move forward. The board agreed to significantly limit taxes in an effort to help lure the project, and boosters of the massive data center say it will create thousands of jobs for Utahns, power itself and buildings at Hill Air Force Base and clean the water it uses and send it to the Great Salt Lake.

On Monday, Box Elder County commissioners agreed to postpone a decision on the data center until Monday at 4 p.m.

If approved, the center would be built in the new 2nd District.

The Democratic nominee in the district, Peter Crosby, said in a statement to The Tribune that while he is “always excited for new jobs and stable employment for Utahns,” he was concerned about the proposed data center, and he is particularly worried about the lack of public input on the project.

“The state appears to be putting heavy pressure on the government of Box Elder County without allowing the public or the locally elected officials to perform their due diligence,” Crosby wrote. “Many in northern Utah are already wary of a state government that seems to ignore the will and voice of the people.”

Independent American Party candidate Carlton Bowen said in a statement to The Tribune that he he supports “economic growth, technology, jobs, and national security infrastructure” but had concerns about the project.

The public, he wrote, deserves clear answers about “water rights and actual water use, power generation, roads and traffic, emergency services, tax incentives, local hiring, land-use impacts, and long-term obligations before final approval.”

“[W]e shouldn’t be asked to accept vague assurances on a project of this scale,” Bowen said.

But, the candidate added, “I will note this is a local issue, not a federal issue. If elected as a U.S. Representative this is something that should be decided locally, not by the federal government!”

Libertarian candidate Daniel Cottam did not respond to requests for comment.