Stratos Center controversy sparks leadership shake-up at Military Installation Development Authority
The Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA) is undergoing a leadership change, with Dan Hemmert replacing Paul Morris as executive director, following widespread controversy surrounding the proposed Stratos Data Center Project in Box Elder County, Utah. The project has faced significant public opposition, leading to the defeat of incumbent county commissioners and Utah Senate President Stuart Adams in recent primary elections. MIDA and O'Leary Digital had driven the initiative, which was green-lit by county commissioners despite protests.
The Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA), a Utah state entity, is experiencing a leadership change following significant public outcry over the proposed Stratos Data Center Project. Dan Hemmert, a businessman and former state senator, has been unanimously selected by MIDA's board of directors to replace outgoing executive director Paul Morris. While MIDA staff stated Morris had been preparing to step down for a year, his abrupt departure is widely seen as a response to his handling of the controversial Stratos Project's rollout.
Proposed by O'Leary Digital, in conjunction with MIDA, the Stratos Project aimed to develop a 40,000-acre hyperscale data center in the remote Hansel Valley area of Box Elder County. However, the plan met with fierce opposition, with approximately 600 residents gathering to protest the industrial-scale development in their rural county. Despite the protests, Box Elder County Commissioners were expected to approve an interlocal agreement for the data center, urged by MIDA, which also offered state tax incentives to O'Leary Digital.
The controversy has had significant political repercussions. Vocal opposition groups emerged quickly in Box Elder County, leading to incumbent commissioners Boyd Bingham and Lee Perry losing their re-election bids in the June 23 GOP primary. Additionally, Utah Senate President Stuart Adams, who served as MIDA's chairman, was voted out in the recent GOP primary due to public anger over the data center project. Critics also allege that MIDA's board composition is structured to favor development, with a history of granting property and energy tax cuts without adequate due diligence. The project's proximity to the shrinking Great Salt Lake has further fueled opposition.