MIDA appoints new executive director, as opposition to Stratos Project continues
The Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA) has appointed Dan Hemmert as its new executive director amidst ongoing controversy surrounding the Stratos Project Data Center in Box Elder County, Utah. The project has faced public protests and boycotts, leading developer Kevin O’Leary to scale back project plans and potentially influencing local election outcomes for commissioners who approved it.
The Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA) has appointed Dan Hemmert as its new executive director, following a unanimous vote by board members. Hemmert's appointment comes as current executive director Paul Morris plans to retire.
The leadership change occurs amidst continued controversy surrounding the Stratos Project Data Center, a large-scale development in rural Box Elder County, Utah, in which MIDA is involved. The project has faced significant public backlash, including protests and boycotts against MIDA and the Box Elder County Commission. Developer Kevin O'Leary has since scaled back his plans for the data center due to this opposition.
The Stratos Project has also become a critical issue in local politics, with Box Elder County Commissioners Lee Perry and Boyd Bingham reportedly losing their primary elections, attributed in part to their approval of the controversial project. During a recent board meeting, MIDA members did not directly address the Stratos Project, though Senator Jerry Stevenson, a board member, remarked on "a lot of misinformation out there."