Red Butte Energy and Data Center Campus

BrightNight’s Red Butte Energy and Data Center Campus in Iron County, Utah, located approximately 8 miles north of Newcastle, will feature over 2 GWs of hybrid power systems and a 1.5 GW data center campus. Power generation will include 300 MW of solar energy, 1,200 MWh of battery storage and 1.5 GW of natural gas power.

The Red Butte Energy and Data Center Campus represents how energy and digital infrastructure can be developed together. By co-locating solar and gas power generation, energy storage, and data center operations on a single, purpose-built campus, the project is designed to improve efficiency, strengthen reliability, and reduce overall system impacts, while respecting local environmental conditions and Iron County’s rural character.

The project is being deliberately designed to use less water than the current agricultural use on the property. Solar facilities require very little ongoing water, and the data center and gas facilities are being engineered to rely on air‑cooled, closed‑loop, or other low‑consumption systems wherever feasible. Overall, the project will comply with all local water regulations and permits and is planned to fit within regional water resource constraints.

During construction, there will be short‑term emissions and dust, similar to other major infrastructure projects. Contractors will be required to use modern equipment, dust control, and best practices that meet or exceed state and federal standards. Once operating, the solar and data center facilities themselves do not produce on‑site combustion emissions. The natural gas facility will have permitted emissions, but it must go through a detailed air permit and dispersion modeling process and comply with all Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and federal air quality regulations designed to protect public health, including for downwind communities between Newcastle and Cedar City.

The Red Butte Energy and Data Center Campus is not expected to create noticeable noise impacts for its nearest neighbors. A third-party engineering team is completing preparing a professional acoustic assessment that will map expected noise levels at different distances and directions from the site. Some noise producing equipment on the site will include the gas plant turbines, as well as HVAC cooling systems, fans, and backup equipment at the data center. The layout, building designs, and equipment enclosures will be refined to keep noise within applicable standards at property boundaries and to avoid meaningful changes in noise levels at nearby properties. Those noise study results will be shared as part of the public permitting process.

No, the campus will use targeted, safety‑based lighting, not broad-area illumination. Lighting at the solar, gas, and data center facilities will be:

• Directed downward and shielded to reduce skyglow
• Limited to key access points, working areas, and security needs
• Controlled with timers or motion sensors where appropriate

The design follows dark‑sky best practices, so that lighting focuses on safety and security while minimizing spillover onto neighboring properties and the night sky.

Multiple biological surveys have been completed across the project area to understand which species use the site, where sensitive habitats occur, and how animals move through the landscape. Those studies found no federally designated critical habitat on the site. The project will take measures to minimize impacts to big game and raptors where feasible, including timing certain activities outside critical breeding or nesting seasons. Fencing and road crossings are designed with wildlife in mind where practicable. Each component of the campus must comply with state and federal wildlife laws, and recommended mitigation measures from wildlife agencies will be incorporated into construction and operations plans.

The project will implement a site‑wide vegetation and weed management plan. Typical measures include:

• Maintaining low, managed vegetation around facilities to reduce fire risk
• Targeted mowing or trimming rather than frequent heavy disturbance
• Selective herbicide use only where needed and in compliance with label requirements and regulations

Combined with clear access routes and fire‑safe setbacks, the goal is a clean, well‑maintained site that limits invasive species, protects soil stability, and reduces wildfire risk.

Recognizing that the nearest fully staffed fire and EMS resources are in Cedar City and other regional hubs, the project’s safety planning assumes longer response times. The campus is therefore being designed with:

• On‑site fire protection systems where required by code
• Dedicated water storage and hydrants or equivalent fire flows where needed
• Clear access roads and staging areas for responders
• Detailed Emergency Response Plans coordinated with the Newcastle Volunteer Fire District, the Iron County Sheriff’s Office and other local EMS services

Before and after construction, the project will coordinate training and joint planning so local responders understand site layout, equipment, and contact procedures, and have the information they need if an incident occurs.

Like any large project, construction will bring temporary increases in truck traffic, noise, and dust. The construction plan will:

• Use designated haul routes to stay on appropriate roads and avoid sensitive local streets where possible
• Set typical daytime working hours, with any night work limited and communicated
• Implement dust control measures such as water trucks and stabilized access roads
• Restore disturbed areas and temporary laydown yards when construction is complete
• Make targeted improvements to existing county roads and project access points, in coordination with Iron County, and maintain haul routes so they are left in similar or better condition when construction is finished

These measures are intended to keep construction impacts temporary, managed, and predictable for nearby residents and road users. Additional detail on haul routes, road upgrades, and maintenance commitments will be provided in the project’s Transportation Plan submitted as part of the county review process.

The campus is being designed to support a mix of modern computing needs, not a single application. That can include cloud services, enterprise IT, research, digital media, and AI workloads, depending on customer demand. Across the industry, large data center operators balance time‑to‑market, reliability, cost, and sustainability, and many are looking for sites that pair firm power with renewables rather than pure fossil or pure renewable solutions. BrightNight’s role is to provide reliable, efficient power and infrastructure; individual tenants remain responsible for their own data, content, and business practices under existing laws and regulations.

Because the campus is located in western Iron County, the tax base, jobs, and local spending are expected to benefit this part of the county directly. Key benefits include:

• Long‑term property and equipment tax revenue that supports county services, schools, and infrastructure with relatively low demand on public services
• Spending on local goods and services, from fuel and aggregate to lodging and meals
• The opportunity to co‑invest in local priorities (e.g., infrastructure, emergency services, community facilities) through a tailored community benefits program

An independent economic impact study is being prepared as part of the county approval process to quantify expected tax, job, and spending impacts for Iron County and its communities.

Yes. A multi‑technology campus creates more diverse opportunities than a stand‑alone facility. These include:

• Construction Phase: Construction jobs across civil, electrical, mechanical, and building trades, with an emphasis on hiring local and regional contractors where possible
• Operations Phase: Long-term, skilled positions associated with solar operations, gas plant operations, data center operations, and ongoing maintenance
• Local businesses (lodging, food, fuel, materials, services) also typically see increased demand during construction and through the life of the project
• Indirect jobs from increased demand at local businesses (suppliers, services, hospitality)

The project team will work with county and state workforce partners to highlight openings locally and explore training pathways so residents have the opportunity to apply to these openings.

The campus is being planned to work with, not against, the existing grid. By co‑locating firm gas generation, solar, and batteries next to major transmission infrastructure, the project is designed to serve large new data center loads without over‑taxing existing lines and to provide grid services that can help stabilize the system. Retail electric rates for homes and small businesses in the region continue to be set and regulated by the local utility and regulators; this project does not control residential tariffs. The intent is that new large‑load growth is served in a way that supports reliability and reduces pressure on existing customers, rather than competing with them for scarce capacity.

All energy and data center facilities must be designed, built, and operated to national and state safety codes, including for gas handling, electrical systems, and high‑voltage equipment. Typical measures include:

• Setbacks and fencing to keep the public away from high‑risk areas
• Automatic monitoring and shut‑down systems for critical equipment
• 24/7 remote monitoring and control
• Regular inspections, maintenance, and testing
• Strict training and procedures for on‑site staff and contractors

The project will coordinate with pipeline operators, utilities, and regulators to ensure that on‑site facilities are fully compliant and that clear safety and emergency protocols are in place.

Each part of the campus will have a decommissioning plan. At the end of the project’s life or if facilities are retired, major equipment and structures are dismantled and removed. Metals, wiring, and structural components are typically recycled; the industry is steadily improving recycling for solar panels, batteries, and electronic equipment used in data centers. Gas plant components and balance‑of‑plant infrastructure are similarly removed where practicable. Decommissioning must comply with landowner agreements and county and state regulations, with the intent that the land can be restored to an agreed‑upon future use.