Cox backs Box Elder County data center proposal, in part, due to national security factors

Utah Governor Spencer Cox has publicly endorsed the contentious "Stratos Project," a massive data center and power plant initiative planned for Box Elder County. The project, led by Canadian businessman Kevin O'Leary and his company O'Leary Digital, envisions a network of data centers across 40,000 acres and 7.5 gigawatts of power generation, likely from natural gas. Governor Cox emphasizes the project's critical role in national security, asserting that Utah, like other states, has an obligation to facilitate such developments to maintain technological leadership against global competitors. The proposal, which emerged publicly last week, has ignited significant opposition. Critics primarily voice concerns over the extensive water requirements for cooling the facilities and the potential adverse effects on the Great Salt Lake. Opponents demonstrated at a recent Box Elder County Commission meeting, where officials tabled a vote on an interlocal agreement with the Utah Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA) and a resolution of support for the project. Commissioners expressed frustration over being excluded from earlier planning discussions and requested more time for consideration. Despite the backlash, Governor Cox downplays environmental worries, citing advancements in data center water efficiency and clarifying that the project's water needs would involve reallocating existing water rights, not drawing from the Great Salt Lake. He also defended the rural Box Elder County site as ideal due to existing natural gas pipelines and its distance from residential areas. Cox further criticized the tendency for prolonged deliberations in the country, advocating for prompt decision-making after public feedback. MIDA has already expressed its support for the project, which is designed to serve the U.S. military and defense contractors.