Opposition raises cancer concerns over Stratos data center in Box Elder County, Utah
Residents in Box Elder County, Utah, are protesting and organizing a referendum against the proposed Stratos data center, citing environmental and health concerns. They warn of potential cancer risks due to the data center's significant natural gas consumption. Activists are demanding that carcinogen exposures be legally factored into the approval process for the project.
Protests have erupted in Tremonton, Box Elder County, Utah, against the proposed Stratos "hyper scale" data center, which opponents fear could pose a significant cancer threat due to its massive natural gas consumption. According to a letter published in The Salt Lake Tribune, the data center is projected to utilize twice the natural gas currently consumed by the entire state of Utah, powered by the Ruby Pipeline. Critics highlight that natural gas and petroleum products contain benzene, a known carcinogen, and question the potential exposure risk to the Hansel Valley and its ecosystem.
The Box Elder Accountability Referendum (BEAR) organizers are actively informing voters about these health concerns as they gather signatures for a referendum. They are urging that benzene and other carcinogen exposures be thoroughly assessed and incorporated into any legal opposition against the data center's approval. The letter also challenges Utah's governor and state government to implement protective measures against what is termed a "Stratos-pheric" cancer threat, drawing a parallel to California's Proposition 65, which mandates public warnings about chemical exposures.