MIDA, ‘Shark Tank’ Kevin O’Leary announce new data center project area

The Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA), a Utah state entity focused on military and economic development, has partnered with TV personality Kevin O Leary's O Leary Digital Utah Development Company to launch a massive hyperscale data center initiative in Box Elder County. Known as the "Stratos Project Area" and marketed as "Wonder Valley," MIDA Executive Director Paul Morris stated it is their most ambitious project to date, projected to generate economic benefits far exceeding previous state projects. The project area encompasses 40,000 acres of private land and 1,200 acres of military and state-owned land, including portions of the Utah Test and Training Range and Hill Air Force Base. O Leary emphasized the project's role in competing with China in AI data center technology, positioning it as a "national security imperative" that will also support the Pentagon, Department of Defense, U.S. Air Force, and Utah National Guard. Phase 1 of Wonder Valley is designed to generate approximately three gigawatts of energy, with a total capacity reaching nine gigawatts. Morris addressed common criticisms of data centers, asserting that the Stratos project will be 100% self-powered and use less water than traditional ranching through a closed-loop cooling system, aiming for a "net positive to the Great Salt Lake." However, residents at a Box Elder County Commission meeting expressed concerns about the project's impact on their land, water pollution, noise, and a perceived lack of transparency. Despite resident apprehension, some locals, like Tim Munns, indicated support after evaluating the project's inevitability, choosing involvement over opposition. MIDA estimates the project will bring significant annual revenue to Box Elder County, starting at $30 million after Phase 1 and potentially reaching $108 million upon full completion. A timeline for "Wonder Valley" has not yet been announced.