Protesters raise concerns about water, transparency over proposed data center
Hundreds of residents in Utah are protesting a proposed data center project in Box Elder County, citing major concerns about water usage and a perceived lack of transparency from local government. Opponents are gathering signatures for a petition to put the project on the ballot, despite the Box Elder County Council having voted to move forward with it.
Hundreds of protestors gathered at the Utah State Capitol to voice strong opposition against the proposed Stratus Data Center project in Box Elder County. The demonstration, organized by Box Elder Concerned Citizens and environmental groups, centered on critical concerns regarding the project's potential strain on water resources and a perceived lack of government transparency.
The protest follows a recent Box Elder County Council vote to advance the project, a decision that has fueled public anxiety over the data center's size and its impact on the region's water supply. Patrick Shea, a land and climate expert at Utah Tech, highlighted concerns that communities are making rapid decisions on such projects without sufficient foresight. Opponents, including resident Shannon Barton, feel excluded from the decision-making process for a project they believe will shape Utah for decades.
Box Elder Concerned Citizens are actively collecting signatures, aiming for 7,000 to place the Stratus project on the ballot for a public vote. While the project is not yet fully finalized, protestors are demanding a greater say in Utah's burgeoning AI landscape, emphasizing that for many, the issue is deeply personal.