Kevin O'leary talks data center timeline
Celebrity investor Kevin O'Leary is seeking public support for his Stratus AI data center project in Box Elder County, Utah, which recently saw politicians who approved the project lose re-election bids. The project requires key water and construction permits to move forward within a year. O'Leary also faces questions about his commitment to provide excess water to the Great Salt Lake.
Celebrity investor Kevin O'Leary is actively campaigning to garner support from Utahns for his large-scale AI data center project, known as the Stratus project, slated for Box Elder County. O'Leary, speaking from the East Coast, expressed his desire to shift the current narrative surrounding the development, emphasizing the potential for 4,000 construction jobs and 2,000 permanent positions.
The project's approval, which included a leading role from Utah Senate President Stuart Adams and two Box Elder County Commissioners, has been met with political repercussions. Both Adams and the commissioners recently lost their re-election bids after voting in favor of the Stratus agreement. Despite this, O'Leary remains unconvinced that his data center project was the sole reason for their electoral losses, instead focusing on the policy aspects.
O'Leary indicated that he has interested tenants under non-disclosure agreements and aims to break ground within a year, contingent on securing crucial water and construction permits. He anticipates that a phased construction approach will eventually win over public opinion in Utah. A significant point of contention is O'Leary's commitment to supply excess water to the Great Salt Lake, a plan that currently lacks specific details regarding treatment levels and potential land access for piping. KSL investigator Daniela Rivera conducted this interview as part of a special series focusing on data centers in Utah.