Democratic firm behind ‘Republican’ campaign to oust Box Elder commissioners over data center
A Democratic firm is funding a campaign against Box Elder County commissioners who approved a special zoning agreement for the Stratos Project data center. The project, promoted by Kevin O'Leary, faces significant public opposition over environmental impacts and power demands. State entities like MIDA are criticized for fast-tracking the project, limiting county input.
A Democratic consulting firm, Fulcrum Campaigns, is behind a political action committee (PAC) named "Majorities Matter PAC" that is funding a campaign called "Republicans Against the Stratos Project Data Center." This campaign, which has spent nearly $11,000 on ads, mailers, and a website, aims to convince rural Republican voters in Box Elder County, Utah, to remove County Commissioners Boyd Bingham and Lee Perry in the upcoming June GOP primary elections. The campaign criticizes the commissioners for approving a special zoning agreement for the controversial Stratos Project data center.
Commissioner Lee Perry refutes the campaign's claims, stating it is deceptive in misrepresenting both the PAC's partisan affiliation and the commissioners' limited role in the project's approval. Perry indicated that state entities, particularly the Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA), largely drove the approval process. MIDA reportedly informed commissioners that the project would proceed with or without their support, potentially leading to lawsuits from the developer.
The Stratos Project, promoted by Canadian investor Kevin O’Leary, has generated significant public outcry in Utah over its projected size, potential environmental impacts, and immense power consumption, which could necessitate an onsite natural gas plant and increase water usage. State officials, including Gov. Spencer Cox and House Speaker Mike Schultz, have publicly criticized the approval process, though Schultz denies their comments are intended to be against the commissioners themselves. In response to public pressure, O'Leary has agreed to reduce the project's footprint and focus initial permit applications on a smaller phase. The controversy underscores a broader pattern of misinformation surrounding the data center development in Box Elder County.