The small Utah county fighting a massive data center
Residents in Box Elder County, Utah, are actively opposing the "Stratos Project," a massive 40,000-acre data center backed by Kevin O'Leary, following its approval by the county commission. Concerns are primarily focused on the project's significant water and electricity demands, its potential environmental impact on the Great Salt Lake, and the health effects on the community. Opposition efforts include a pending referendum to allow residents to vote on overturning the commission's decision.
In Box Elder County, Utah, a rural community is engaged in a contentious battle over the proposed 40,000-acre "Stratos Project" hyperscale data center, backed by businessman Kevin O'Leary. Residents, including Tameron and Brenna Williams, expressed outrage after the Box Elder County Commission approved the project on May 4th, despite strong public opposition at a packed meeting. Concerns revolve around the data center's projected use of 9 gigawatts of power and 619 million gallons of water annually, which residents argue will exacerbate the drying Great Salt Lake and generate significant thermal load potentially impacting local health.
The project's approval process has drawn criticism for its speed and perceived lack of transparency. The Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA), a state agency, initially approved the project on April 20th, before presenting it to the county commission. Adding to the controversy, political consultants Gabi Finlayson and Jackie Morgan of Elevate Strategies uncovered that Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz owns 25,000 acres near the data center site, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest, though Schultz claims he bought the land before knowing about the project and does not stand to profit.
Following the commission's approval, Brenna Williams initiated a referendum campaign to allow Box Elder County residents to vote on overturning the decision. This widespread, bipartisan opposition highlights a growing distrust of data center developments across the country, as evidenced by recent polls. Residents feel their voices were ignored, contrasting the economic benefits touted by county officials with severe environmental and quality-of-life concerns.