Inside the backlash against Kevin O'Leary's massive Utah data center project
Residents in Box Elder County, Utah, are fiercely opposing the proposed Stratos Project, a massive data center spearheaded by Kevin O'Leary. Concerns include significant environmental impact, increased heat, and strain on local resources like water and electricity. The backlash has led to political consequences, with several local politicians losing their positions after voting for the project.
The Stratos Project, proposed for Box Elder County, Utah, and backed by Kevin O'Leary, is facing considerable backlash from local residents due to its potential environmental impact and resource consumption. The project, initially planned to be 40,000 acres, has become a focal point for a national debate on hyperscale data centers.
CBS News reporter Riley Callahan visited the site, highlighting environmental concerns such as increased temperatures, impact on wildlife, and extensive water and electricity usage. Locals expressed fears of losing the natural landscape and feeling powerless against the development. The controversy has already seen several politicians, including state senators and county commissioners, lose their jobs after voting in favor of the project.
One former county commissioner explained the difficult choice between voting with public sentiment, which could lead to re-election, or voting for the project to avoid potentially devastating lawsuits for the county, referencing a similar situation in Saline, Michigan, where a vote against a data center led to a lawsuit and eventual construction. The data center project developers released a statement acknowledging that studies on potential temperature changes are preliminary and that they are researching technologies to minimize heat output and water intake. Despite these assurances, local opposition remains robust, with the project's size having been minimized due to public pushback.