The loudest data center fight in America, as seen from next door
The proposed Stratos Hyperscale Data Center in Utah’s Hansel Valley, developed by O’Leary Digital and West GenCo with the Utah Military Installation Development Authority, has triggered intense local opposition. Residents and researchers are concerned about its enormous power demand, water consumption and potential effects on the Great Salt Lake, while developers emphasize economic growth and possible national-security uses.
The Stratos Hyperscale Data Center is proposed for Hansel Valley in Box Elder County, where O’Leary Digital and land-development company West GenCo have assembled thousands of acres. The project was approved by the Utah Military Installation Development Authority, but its plans have been repeatedly revised after backlash. The initial nine-gigawatt proposal was reduced to a planned first phase capped at 1.5 gigawatts, with a potential maximum capacity of 7.5 gigawatts. Developers have promoted the project as a source of jobs, computing capacity and infrastructure that could support defense operations, although Hill Air Force Base says it has no involvement and no military tenant or Defense Department contract has been announced.
Ranchers, residents and researchers have raised concerns over the project’s projected electricity use, heat output and water demands near the environmentally stressed Great Salt Lake. The project has been allotted historic ranch water rights that could provide up to 1.6 million gallons per day, while O’Leary Digital says a revised application would reduce average consumption to less than 900,000 gallons through recycling. MIDA has halted development amid lawsuits and citizen-led referendums, while O’Leary Digital continues submitting applications for water rights, air-emissions review and environmental permits. Utah lawmakers are also expected to consider data center restrictions and transparency requirements.