Residents Express Concerns Over Proposed Data Center in Box Elder County, Utah

Investor and TV personality Kevin O'Leary, known as "Mr. Wonderful," is spearheading a massive hyperscale data center development called "Wonder Valley," with one site, the Stratos Project, proposed for Box Elder County, Utah. The facility is planned to cover approximately 62 square miles, making it one of the largest projects of its kind ever proposed, and is designed to compete globally. Residents in Box Elder County are expressing strong opposition to the project, raising concerns about its immense scale, potential environmental impact, and demands on resources. Specifically, they are worried about increased water usage in a drought-prone state and potential emissions. The data center is projected to consume more than double Utah's current average electrical use, with natural gas piped in and no tap into the existing power grid. While the project, which will sit on state, military, and private land, is already receiving tax breaks and is claimed to bring $250 million annually to the state and 2,000 permanent jobs, many locals remain unconvinced. Reports indicate that most residents surveyed are against the project. Attempts to get responses from local leaders, including Box Elder County commissioners and the mayor of Brigham City, regarding these concerns have been unsuccessful so far. A public meeting on the project is scheduled for Monday, May 4th, at 4 p.m. at the Box Elder Fairgrounds. Governor Cox has also commented on data centers in Utah, though specific details from his statement are not provided in this report.