Box Elder County residents demand MIDA dissolution, oppose Stratos data center

Representatives from conservation, faith, and environmental organizations, alongside Box Elder County residents, gathered at the Utah State Capitol to deliver an open letter with over 6,000 signatures to Governor Spencer Cox. The letter opposes the Stratos data center, a 40,000-acre project in Box Elder County, citing concerns about its impact on the Great Salt Lake, wetlands, air quality, wildlife, and Northern Utah communities. The proposed data center, presented by investor Kevin O'Leary's venture firm O’Leary Digital to Utah’s Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA), was approved, sparking significant backlash. Governor Cox had previously expressed frustration with delays in development, which residents found dismissive of their concerns. Residents, including Jayden Weekes, voiced disappointment in the governor's stance and called for transparency regarding water, infrastructure, and long-term environmental impacts. On May 8, a group named Box Elder Accountability Referendum (BEAR) filed two applications for a referendum to overturn the Box Elder County Commission's approval of the data center. Speakers at the Capitol, including Reverend Monica Dobbins, Dr. Brian Mitch, Maria Archibald, and Alison Barton, emphasized environmental protection and criticized the financial implications for residents, including potential tax increases and subsidies for developers. Calls were made to dissolve MIDA and implement robust third-party environmental reviews for new data centers. Another protest is scheduled for May 23.