Scientists raise concern over hyperscale data center impact on ecology

Scientists have raised significant concerns regarding the environmental impact of a planned 60-square-mile hyperscale data center in Utah's Box Elder County, specifically in Hansel Valley. Dr. Ben Abbott, an ecology professor at Brigham Young University, stated that the immense heat generated by the data center, which could produce up to 9 gigawatts of power, could drastically alter the climate of northern Utah and affect the Great Salt Lake. Dr. Robert Davies, a physics professor at Utah State University, elaborated on these concerns, explaining that the production of such high energy inevitably leads to substantial waste heat. He estimated that 7 to 8 gigawatts of waste heat from the power plant, combined with 9 gigawatts used by the data center, would be dumped into the valley, potentially increasing local temperatures by 8 degrees and even higher during nighttime inversions. Such changes, Davies warned, could disrupt wildlife movement and migratory bird patterns. Despite developer O'Leary Digital's assurances that their system would be highly efficient and unconventional, the scientists remain skeptical, emphasizing the need for concrete data to substantiate these claims. They stressed the importance of responsible development, stating that while not against data centers categorically, innovation must be supported by transparent environmental data.