Massive AI data center delayed by Box Elder County leaders amid concerns

A significant AI data center project proposed for Box Elder County, Utah, has encountered delays following concerns raised by county leaders and residents. The project, spearheaded by Canadian entrepreneur Kevin O'Leary and Alpine-based West GenCo in collaboration with Utah's Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA), sparked public outcry over its scale and perceived rushed process. The proposed development spans 40,000 acres of unincorporated land in Box Elder County and would require an estimated 7.5 gigawatts of self-generated power, more than twice Utah's current statewide usage. This power would likely come from natural-gas-fired plants linked to the Ruby Pipeline. While developers claim the data centers would use closed-loop cooling systems to minimize water consumption after initial intake, residents expressed skepticism regarding the allocation of 13,000 acre-feet of water, fearing impacts on local resources and their livelihoods, particularly for cattle ranchers. Community members voiced feelings of being blindsided, citing a lack of prior public comment opportunities and demanding transparent data to support claims about environmental protection and community impact. Questions were also raised about Kevin O'Leary's background as a developer. The project aims to bolster military AI needs and cloud computing, an area MIDA emphasizes the US is currently lagging in. However, the swift progression of the proposal has eroded public trust, leading to the delay by Box Elder County leaders amidst ongoing concerns.