New poll: Kevin O’Leary’s fast-tracked Utah data center sparks voter revolt
A new poll reveals a significant increase in voter opposition, particularly among Republicans, to Kevin O'Leary's 'Stratos Project' data center in Box Elder County, Utah. This backlash led to the unseating of long-serving state and county officials who supported the project's fast-tracked approval. Despite the political upheaval, the data center project is continuing to pursue necessary permits.
A recent Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll indicates a sharp rise in opposition to the 'Stratos Project' data center in Box Elder County, Utah, with 60% of voters now opposing the development, up from 53% in May. This surge in disapproval, particularly among Republican voters, directly contributed to a significant political upset in Utah's state elections.
Utah’s longest-serving Senate president, Stuart Adams, R-Layton, was unseated after becoming closely associated with the data center’s fast-tracked government approval process. Similarly, Box Elder County commissioners who had supported a special zoning arrangement for the project also lost their reelection bids, reflecting widespread voter dissatisfaction. The poll highlights voter concerns primarily revolving around water and energy consumption, and environmental impacts, despite developer claims of misinformation.
Celebrity investor Kevin O'Leary, whose company O'Leary Digital is behind the project, has faced considerable criticism from Utahns, with his favorability underwater. State House Speaker Mike Schultz directly blamed O’Leary for the political fallout, accusing him of lecturing voters instead of addressing their concerns. Despite the intense public outcry and political shifts, O'Leary Digital CEO Paul Palandjian stated the project’s Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA) designation remains unaffected, and the company will continue to pursue required permits, pledging to listen and learn from voters.