Utah Senate president to O’Leary: Make it 30,000 acres smaller

Utah Senate President Stuart Adams has publicly urged investor Kevin O'Leary to significantly reduce the scale of the proposed 40,000-acre Stratos Project data center in Box Elder County, Utah, by 75%, shrinking it to 10,000 acres. Adams also called for stricter environmental and transparency measures, including returning excess water to the Great Salt Lake and protecting wildlife. His requests, outlined in a letter to O'Leary, carry no legal weight but aim to influence the project's direction amidst considerable public opposition.

The Stratos Project, which was unanimously approved by Box Elder County commissioners in early May, has generated intense public scrutiny over its potential environmental impact and alleged lack of transparency. Following the approval, a group of voters attempted to place a referendum on the November ballot to overturn the decision, but county officials rejected the application, deeming the issue not "legally referable to voters."

In response to public concerns, Governor Spencer Cox initiated a review of the project by five state departments (Drinking Water, Water Quality, Water Rights, Air Quality, and Wildlife Resources). Additionally, Cox issued an executive order establishing statewide guidelines for future large data center projects in Utah, emphasizing transparency, responsible water and energy use, air quality, and wildlife protection. This order also referenced a 2025 state law preventing data center power development from increasing electricity costs for Utahns.