Utah county approves massive data center project despite environmental concerns, public opposition
Box Elder County, Utah, has approved the controversial Stratos Project, a 40,000-acre data center backed by Kevin O'Leary, despite expert warnings and public backlash. The project is projected to consume immense power and water, generate significant carbon emissions, and potentially raise local temperatures. Opponents are now pursuing a referendum to reverse the county's approval.
Commissioners in Box Elder County, Utah, have approved the Stratos Project, a colossal 40,000-acre data center in the county's Hansel Valley, despite warnings from experts and significant public backlash. The project, backed by venture capitalist Kevin O'Leary and real-estate developer West GenCo, is envisioned to be more than twice the size of Manhattan, consume 9GW of power, and cost over $4 billion for its initial phase. Governor Spencer Cox and Senator Stuart Adams (R-UT) reportedly supported the project, with O'Leary noting their efforts to "accelerate policy in terms of getting permits."
The development faces substantial environmental concerns. A preliminary analysis by Robert Davies, a physics professor at Utah State University, suggests the data center could have a thermal load equivalent to 23 atom bombs daily, potentially raising local temperatures by 2 to 12 degrees Fahrenheit, impacting the desert ecosystem. Utah Clean Energy estimates the project could consume 448 billion cubic feet of gas annually, increasing Utah’s carbon emissions by 55 percent. Water usage is also a flashpoint; although developers promise a "closed-loop" system, initial plans to draw from Salt Wells Spring faced nearly 4,000 public objections before being withdrawn. A new application now targets an "unnamed spring in the Hansel Valley," potentially benefiting from a new state water rights law that prevents rejections based on public welfare.
Public and official reactions have been sharply divided. Box Elder County Commissioner Boyd Bingham expressed frustration with protestors, while Governor Cox criticized delays in project approvals, stating, "It’s the dumbest thing ever." O'Leary has accused opponents of being funded by China. In response to the county's approval, a group of citizens has applied for a referendum, aiming to allow a public vote to reverse the decision, indicating that the battle against the Stratos Project is far from over.