'Sacred,' 'pristine': Data center foes redouble calls to protect area where facility would be built
Opponents of a proposed data center in Box Elder County, Utah, led a media tour to highlight environmental concerns regarding water usage and its impact on the Great Salt Lake. The project, spearheaded by Kevin O'Leary, continues to face strong opposition and legal challenges from critics despite previous political changes. Concerns also extend to the extensive power-generating capacity associated with the development.
Opponents of a large-scale data center and power generation facility proposed for Hansel Valley in Box Elder County, Utah, recently led a media tour of the remote site to renew calls for its protection. The project, spearheaded by Canadian businessman Kevin O'Leary and advanced by O'Leary Digital, has faced intense public backlash, especially concerning its potential environmental impact on the drying Great Salt Lake and regional water resources.
Environmental groups like Grow the Flow, represented by executive director Ben Abbott, and local business owners like Rhonda Lauritzen and her brothers Bruce and Val Anderson of Mineral Resources International, underscored the critical need to preserve the Great Salt Lake. They highlighted fears that the proposed 9 gigawatts of power production, partially reliant on natural gas, could deplete groundwater and adversely affect the lake's ecosystem. Critics also voiced concerns about a perceived lack of public feedback and government overreach in the project's approval process.
The controversy previously led to the ouster of Utah Senate President Stuart Adams and Box Elder County Commissioners Boyd Bingham and Lee Perry in primary elections last June, who were seen as facilitating the project. While public uproar has somewhat subsided, opponents are actively pursuing legal action to stall or modify the plans. Alan Williams, whose wife Brenna Williams describes the land as "sacred," is now running for a seat on the Box Elder County Commission, further demonstrating the ongoing local concern and opposition.