Utah residents voice concerns over proposed Stratos data center in Box Elder County
Utah residents, particularly in Box Elder County, are concerned about the proposed Stratos data center's potential impact on water use, electricity costs, and heat. The article investigates and debunks common misconceptions about data center resource consumption, while acknowledging public opposition and specific local policy responses. Experts caution against oversimplified estimates of AI and data center resource use, highlighting variability and trade-offs in cooling methods.
Residents of Utah, especially in Box Elder County, are voicing significant concerns about the proposed Stratos data center. Local mother Matty Shmitz articulated worries regarding increased summer heat, excessive water use, and rising electricity costs associated with the massive project, which is backed by Kevin O'Leary and is planned to have a 9-gigawatt power capacity, dwarfing average data centers. A Deseret News-Hinckley Institute poll indicates that over half of Utah residents oppose the data center in Box Elder County.
The article clarifies common misconceptions about data center resource consumption. Researcher Shaolei Ren from the University of California, Riverside, and writer Andy Masley refute claims that AI prompts consume a bottle of water, stating that earlier estimates were outdated and largely attributed to indirect water use in electricity generation. Jonathan Koomey, formerly of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, emphasizes the rapid technological changes in computing and the extreme variability in data center water usage, citing Meta's facilities in Utah and Oregon as examples.
Water and energy experts highlight the trade-offs in cooling methods, noting that while some methods are water-intensive, they are energy-efficient, and reducing direct water use can sometimes lead to higher indirect water use through increased electricity generation. Project developers for Stratos estimate annual water use between 163 million and 358 million gallons, which Utah Gov. Spencer Cox claims is less than the area's current use. Dr. Robert Davies, a physics professor at Utah State University, offered a preliminary, unverified analysis suggesting a 9-gigawatt natural gas plant for Stratos could raise local temperatures by several degrees, potentially creating an 'urban heat island' effect.
Regarding electricity, the article notes that data centers account for a moderate portion of the country's electricity growth, not explosive growth. Utah lawmakers have passed a bill requiring data center power development not to negatively impact residential electricity costs, mandating onsite generation or external sourcing. Research from the University of Southern California and Charles River Associates suggests data centers have minimal impact on residential power bills in most areas.