Utah Senate President Demands Stratos Data Center Downsize
Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams, also chair of MIDA, is demanding a 75% reduction in the physical and environmental footprint of the proposed Stratos data center in Box Elder County. He sent a letter to investor Kevin O’Leary, calling for reduced water demand, water redirection to the Great Salt Lake, and protection of wildlife and agriculture.
Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams, who also chairs the state's Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA), has issued a strong call for a massive reduction in the proposed Stratos data center project located in Box Elder County. In a letter directed to celebrity investor Kevin O’Leary, a key proponent of the development, Adams explicitly demanded a 75% reduction in the data center's physical footprint.
Beyond the physical size, Adams' demands also focus on significant environmental concessions. These include a substantial reduction in the project's water demand, a commitment to direct any excess water to the Great Salt Lake, and robust measures to protect local wildlife and agricultural land. This intervention comes after MIDA had initially backed the controversial data center project, highlighting increased scrutiny over its environmental impact. The article also briefly notes unrelated news items concerning low water levels in the Great Salt Lake affecting marina operations and the approval of a new power transmission line for Goblin Valley State Park in Emery County.