Scientists share concerns over proposed mega data center in Box Elder County

Dr. Robert Davies, a physics professor at Utah State University, along with his colleagues, has raised significant concerns regarding Project Stratos, a proposed mega data center in northwestern Box Elder County, Utah. The project, which could span 40,000 acres, is projected to consume up to 9 gigawatts of power, a scale Davies likens to New York City's power demands. He warned that if powered by natural gas, this could increase Utah's greenhouse gas production by approximately 50%. The scientists also questioned the data center's cooling methods, expressing skepticism about claims of low water usage for a facility of this size. Dr. Patrick Belmont, a USU professor of watershed sciences, reinforced these concerns, particularly regarding the impact on the Great Salt Lake, which is already in crisis. Belmont suggested the project's water demands could undo years of local conservation efforts and substantial state investments aimed at restoring the lake. Both professors emphasized the need for more information from developers, local, and state leaders before any further progress. Belmont, also expressing concern as a private citizen, voiced suspicions that the process is being rushed to bypass inconvenient details. A spokesperson for Utah's Military Installation Development (MIDA) responded to Davies' concerns via email, stating that Phase 1 would use about 24 acre-feet of water for the data centers and that this amount would be a net positive for the Great Salt Lake, falling below the water rights the project could secure. However, Davies countered that such efficiency would be "extraordinary" and far exceeds that of the most efficient gas plants known, highlighting that even closed-loop systems experience water loss through evaporation.