Kevin O’Leary promises proof after accusing Utah data center critics of China ties
Billionaire investor Kevin O’Leary claims he will release documents to support his allegations that two Utah groups opposing his massive Box Elder County data center project have ties to China. The proposed Stratos Project, a 40,000-acre data center and power campus, faces criticism over water use, power demand, and air quality concerns affecting the Great Salt Lake. The groups, Alliance for a Better Utah and Elevate Strategies, deny the accusations.
Billionaire investor Kevin O'Leary has escalated the dispute over his proposed Stratos Project, a 40,000-acre data center and power campus in Box Elder County, Utah. O'Leary publicly stated on Fox News that he would release IRS Form 990 filings to substantiate his claims that two Utah-based groups, Alliance for a Better Utah and Elevate Strategies, are "proxies for the Chinese government" and are orchestrating opposition to the project. He specifically focused on Alliance for a Better Utah, suggesting money connected to the group traced back to China through Arabella Advisors.
Both organizations have vehemently denied O'Leary's accusations. Gabi Finlayson of Elevate Strategies stated, "We are not Chinese foreign operatives. Never have been," emphasizing their opposition is based on local concerns regarding the project's impact on Utah's electrical grid, water supply, and the Great Salt Lake. Elizabeth Hutchings of Alliance for a Better Utah also refuted the claims, asserting the group is funded by grassroots donors. The Stratos Project, backed by O'Leary Digital, aims for up to nine gigawatts of power generation, exceeding Utah's current statewide electricity consumption, and has become a highly controversial economic development initiative. FOX 13 News Utah has not independently verified O'Leary's claims and is awaiting the promised document release.