Senate President demands 75% reduction in proposed Box Elder County data center
Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams is demanding a 75% reduction in the proposed 40,000-acre Stratos data center project in Box Elder County, calling for it to be reduced to 10,000 acres. He also seeks greater cooperation with state and federal agencies regarding environmental impact, including dedicating excess water to the Great Salt Lake. This political intervention follows public concerns and a potential referendum against the project.
Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams has publicly demanded a 75% reduction in the proposed Stratos data center project in Box Elder County, which is associated with mogul Kevin O'Leary. In a letter sent to O'Leary, President Adams called for the project's size to be significantly decreased from 40,000 acres to approximately 10,000 acres. He also stressed the importance of increased transparency, stronger conservation commitments, and enhanced protections for natural resources, specifically requiring the treatment and dedication of any excess water to the Great Salt Lake.
This high-level political intervention comes amid growing public concern and a brewing referendum against the county's initial decision to allow the project to move forward. Brenna Williams, lead liaison for the referendum, suggested that Adams' statement might be a political maneuver ahead of his re-election bid. Conversely, Josh Romney, chairman of Great Salt Lake Rising, viewed the letter as a positive development, advocating for sustainable data center development that benefits the Great Salt Lake.
The controversy underscores ongoing debates about the project's scale and its potential environmental impact on the region. A KUTV 2 News reporter attempted to contact Senator Adams for further details on how these demands would affect the data center's size and power requirements, and to address the claims of political motivation, but he was unavailable for comment.