"Protect the water, the air, the land": Hundreds demand halt on Box Elder data center plan
Hundreds of Utahns protested against the Stratos Project, a 40,000-acre data center campus in Box Elder County, citing concerns over air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and water supply. Despite citizen backlash, county commissioners allowed the project to proceed, leading to the formation of an organization aiming for a voter referendum. Legislators also voiced concerns and proposed a bill to study data center environmental impacts.
Hundreds of Utah residents rallied at the Capitol steps on Saturday, demanding a halt to the controversial Stratos Project, a 40,000-acre data center campus slated for Box Elder County along the Great Salt Lake. The demonstration follows a decision by Box Elder County commissioners to greenlight the project despite significant public and environmental group opposition.
Speakers at the rally, including Patrick Belmont, a professor at Utah State University, and Democratic legislators Rep. John Arthur and House Minority Leader Angela Romero, warned that the project could severely impact air quality, increase greenhouse gas emissions, and exacerbate the state’s critical water supply issues. Activist Shannon Barton, a Brigham City resident, formed the Box Elder Accountability Referendum (BEAR) organization, aiming to bring the project's fate to voters after commissioners reportedly denied public comment during the final approval meeting.
Legislators also highlighted the lack of comprehensive research on data center impacts in Utah. Sen. Doug Owens recently proposed a bill to study the environmental consequences of such facilities, although Romero expressed that a study alone might not be sufficient. Protesters carried signs emphasizing environmental protection and criticizing the influence of the project's primary investor, Kevin O’Leary, urging for a more thoughtful approach to large-scale developments.