Box Elder County Commissioners approve Stratos Data Center project despite environmental concerns

Box Elder County Commissioners recently approved the Stratos Data Center, a large-scale project poised to become one of the country's biggest data centers, despite widespread opposition and environmental concerns. The facility is slated for construction in the Great Salt Lake basin, a critical habitat already under strain. Developers, including Kevin O’Leary and West GenCo, along with the Utah’s Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA), are fast-tracking the project, which is expected to reach 9 gigawatts of power, potentially doubling Utah’s current electricity demand and significantly increasing carbon emissions. Critics argue the developers have not provided adequate data to support their claims of modeled air-quality impacts or "net zero water" technologies. Community members, numbering around 3,700, have filed protests with the Utah Division of Water Rights against the facility's application to redirect agricultural water for industrial use. Franque Bains, Director of Sierra Club Utah Chapter, criticized the commission's decision, stating it prioritizes profits over people and is irresponsible given the ongoing crisis of the Great Salt Lake. Tonya Neilson, a Box Elder resident and Sierra Club Executive Committee member, highlighted residents' concerns about bearing the negative impacts like higher utility bills, worse air quality, and scarcer water, while developers reap benefits.