Scientists explain how Box Elder mega Data Center could impact local ecology

Scientists are expressing significant concerns about the ecological impact of a planned hyperscale data center in Box Elder County, Utah. The project, which spans 60 square miles and involves off-grid power production via a gas pipeline, could generate up to twice the amount of gas used statewide. Dr. Ben Abbott, a professor of ecology at Brigham Young University, along with Robert Davies, a physics professor at Utah State University, highlighted worries that the vast amount of waste heat from the power plant and the data center (estimated at 7-8 gigawatts from the plant and 9 gigawatts from the data center) could drastically increase local temperatures by up to 8 degrees, especially during nighttime inversions. This change could impact the climate of northern Utah, the Great Salt Lake, and the movement of migratory birds and other wildlife. While the developer, Oleary Digital, claims their system will be unconventional and highly efficient, scientists are skeptical, stating a need for concrete data to support these assurances. They also point out that even with efficiency, the project would still result in the loss of 40,000 acres of vital habitat.