Hundreds demand halt on Box Elder data center plan • Utah News Dispatch
Hundreds of Utahns protested at the state Capitol against the "Stratos Project," a massive 40,000-acre data center proposed for Box Elder County, which commissioners recently approved despite public backlash. Concerns include impacts on air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and Utah's critical water supply. Opponents have formed an organization to push for a public vote on the project's fate.
Hundreds of Utah residents gathered at the Utah Capitol to protest the proposed "Stratos Project," a vast 40,000-acre data center campus slated for Box Elder County, near the Great Salt Lake. The demonstration took place Saturday afternoon, following a controversial decision by Box Elder County commissioners to greenlight the project despite significant public and environmental opposition.
Speakers at the rally, including Patrick Belmont, a professor in Watershed Sciences at Utah State University, warned that the project poses serious threats to Utah's air quality, could increase greenhouse gas emissions, and would exacerbate the state's ongoing water supply challenges. He emphasized a lack of transparency and independent review in the decision-making process for such a large-scale development. Democratic legislators, including Rep. John Arthur and House Minority Leader Angela Romero, echoed these environmental concerns, highlighting the state's water emergency and the potential toll on natural resources.
Shannon Barton, a Brigham City resident, announced the formation of the Box Elder Accountability Referendum (BEAR), an organization dedicated to allowing voters to decide the project's future. This initiative emerged after commissioners reportedly denied public comment during the final vote meeting, which led to a contentious atmosphere. Opposition also cited a lack of comprehensive research on data center environmental impacts, with Sen. Doug Owens proposing a bill for a study on these effects, though critics like Rep. Romero argue that a study alone is insufficient.
The protests underscore growing public discontent over unchecked data center development and calls for greater accountability, transparency, and scientific evaluation before committing to projects of this magnitude in Utah.