After their initial silence, two Republicans running to represent northern Utah in Congress spoke about the plan to build a “hyperscale” data center project in Box Elder County, as state Rep. Karianne Lisonbee argued that the public has been cut out of the process, while U.S. Rep. Blake Moore said the “acrimony, threats, and vitriol” toward county commissioners “must stop.”

Moore and Lisonbee are currently locked in a tense primary battle to represent Utah’s newly drawn 2nd Congressional District. Moore currently represents the 1st District, and Clearfield Republican Lisonbee received the endorsement of the party’s delegates at last month’s party convention.

Their comments come after weeks of public outcry over the data center plan, which was recently approved by both the state’s Military Installation Development Authority and Box Elder County Commissioners. The project is backed by celebrity investor Kevin O’Leary of “Shark Tank” fame, and is expected to both generate and consume more power than the entire state.

MIDA approved a series of incentives to bring the project to Utah, including lower tax rates.

In a statement to The Salt Lake Tribune, Moore addressed the protests, saying, “The acrimony, threats, and vitriol that have become commonplace against elected officials must stop. It’s nonsense that this is becoming our political discourse here in Utah.”

The county commissioners, the congressman said Friday, are “engaged in the process and are trying to ensure that Box Elder County residents can experience the benefits of this development for future generations.”

“Balancing stakeholder rights and responsibilities makes government very difficult,” he added. “ I am hopeful that with local collaboration this project will be able to balance responsible stewardship of natural resources and water, while continuing Northern Utah’s long legacy of being a critical component of our nation’s security.”

Lisonbee, too, spoke out against threats to the commissioners, saying in a social media video Thursday night, “I want to be clear, death threats against elected officials are never appropriate.”

She went on, however, to criticize the process of the center’s approval.

“While we must remain civil, civility doesn’t mean silence in the face of poor governance,” she said. “A public vote was held with many Box Elder residents in attendance, yet no public comment was allowed. You cannot have public governance without the public’s voice.”

Lisonbee criticized what she said is limited public oversight over the MIDA board, noting specifically that one MIDA member is a lobbyist, seemingly referring to Mike Ostermiller, a lawyer who lobbies on behalf of the Utah Association of Realtors and Utah Property Rights Coalition, among other organizations.

“Taxing authority belongs in the hands of people the public can actually vote for,” Lisonbee said in the video posted to X. “When tax incentives are given to businesses, the increased impacts to roads, police, fire, et cetera exist, but the burden is shifted to residents and property tax.”

Other states, Lisonbee said, are only now realizing how expensive data centers can be. She called on the Utah Legislature, of which she is a member, to address the issue with MIDA and “rethink how we give away tax dollars in Utah.”

Lisonbee also called for two public hearings, moderated by a “neutral third party” to be held with the MIDA board and the Box Elder County Commission.

“Transparency shouldn’t be a request,” she said. “It should be the standard.”

The comments from the GOP primary candidates come as a group of voters in Box Elder County is exploring a possible land use referendum in an effort to put the question of the data center project plan’s approval on the ballot.

And on Wednesday, the Box Elder County Attorney’s Office said that they were aware of protests planned at the county commissioners’ homes and had increased patrols “in these areas to ensure that all activities remain lawful and peaceful.”

In a statement to The Tribune last month, the new 2nd District Democratic nominee Peter Crosby raised similar concerns about public input on the project and said he was worried about the potential environmental impact of the data center.

“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.”

And Independent American Party candidate Carlton Bowen said he supports “economic growth, technology, jobs, and national security infrastructure,” but also had concerns about the project.

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

The Libertarian candidate in the race, Daniel Cottam, did not respond to requests for comment.