MIDA board member, officials address public concerns over Stratos Project
A public forum in Box Elder County, Utah, addressed concerns over the controversial Stratos Project data center, developed by MIDA and O'Leary Digital. Public sentiment against data centers is strong, leading to the ousting of officials involved with the project in recent primary elections. Discussions focused on future public oversight and accountability.
A public forum was recently held in Box Elder County, Utah, to address the controversial Stratos Project, a large-scale data center development. The forum brought together leaders, activists, and a board member from the Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA), one of the project's developers, along with experts from Grow the Flow and the Box Elder Accountability Referendum. The primary focus of the discussion was the need for enhanced public oversight, transparency, and accountability for such projects moving forward.
Clearfield Mayor and MIDA member Mark Shepherd, who attended as a private citizen, acknowledged the unexpectedly strong public opposition. He stated that while some public input is anticipated, the level of concern for the Stratos Project was significantly higher than he foresaw. This strong public sentiment against data centers in Utah has already had political consequences. Several officials responsible for the Stratos project, including State Senate President and former MIDA board member J. Stuart Adams, were ousted in recent primary races, highlighting the community's demand for greater control over data center developments.