Kevin O'Leary defends Utah data center project after residents file lawsuit
Kevin O'Leary is defending his Project Stratus data center in Utah against a lawsuit filed by residents. The residents allege the mega-project was pushed through without sufficient public input, while O'Leary refutes claims of its massive size and environmental impact, stating the project will be scaled back.
"Shark Tank" star Kevin O'Leary is actively defending "Project Stratus," a large data center development in Utah, against a recently filed lawsuit by local residents. The residents accuse O'Leary and the developers of pushing the mega-project through without adequate public support or input.
O'Leary, chairman of O'Leary Ventures, stated on "Morning in America" that much of the opposition stems from "misinformation," particularly regarding the project's scale, water consumption, and heat generation. He asserted that modern data centers are far more efficient, use less water, and are often air-cooled, contrasting them with older technologies. He also claimed the Utah project would generate its own power, alleviating strain on the local grid and helping stabilize electricity costs, and mentioned plans to contribute to increasing water from the land that doesn't flow into the Great Salt Lake, addressing concerns about the lake's declining levels and environmental hazards like arsenic and cyanide.
O'Leary acknowledged a recent poll showing 53% local opposition. In response, he has agreed to scale the project back significantly, cutting its proposed 40,000-acre footprint by more than 50% to around 10,000 acres. He plans to win over residents by providing accurate information, highlighting the economic benefits of 4,000 construction jobs and 2,000 permanent engineering and support jobs, and emphasizing the advanced technology and national importance of data centers.