Opposition Emerges to Kevin O'Leary's Proposed Box Elder County Data Center
Kevin O'Leary is proposing a massive data center in Box Elder County, Utah, which has drawn significant local opposition due to concerns over water usage and land use. Critics accuse O'Leary and state politicians of pushing the project through without proper local hearings.
"Mr. Wonderful" Kevin O'Leary, a television personality and businessman, is facing intense scrutiny and public opposition over his proposed 40,000-acre data center project in Box Elder County, Utah. The development has been characterized by locals as a "massive water and land-use boondoggle" and critics allege it was advanced by an "O'Leary-led cabal of Utah political sad sacks" who quietly acquired land without local input or hearings.
The article highlights the strong "hue and cry from all corners" against the project, particularly from women like Gabi Finlayson and Jackie Morgan of Elevate Utah. They have used social media to expose O'Leary's methods and challenge his claims, including his assertion that protestors were "bussed in" and that the project is vital for winning "data center wars" against China.
O'Leary has been accused of Trumpian tactics, including making unsubstantiated claims and targeting critics like Finlayson, Morgan, and Senate candidate Caroline Gleich, whom he falsely accused of being "paid agents of China." These women have publicly refuted O'Leary's accusations, emphasizing his own foreign ties as a Canadian and UAE citizen.
The project continues to face "ongoing" opposition from residents concerned about the environmental impact, particularly the siphoning of Utah's water resources and the potential for increased heat in Box Elder County.