Kevin O'Leary Disputes Environmental Impact Claims From His Massive Utah Data Center Project
Commissioners said the project could create jobs and strengthen military AI and cloud-computing access.
- On Monday, Box Elder County commissioners unanimously approved two resolutions for a massive 40,000-acre data center project, citing economic development and national security benefits.
- Spearheaded by celebrity investor Kevin O'Leary, the 'Stratos Project' aims to bolster U.S. military cloud-computing capabilities, supported by the Military Installation Development Authority to counter Chinese advances.
- Hundreds of residents gathered at the Box Elder County Fairgrounds to protest, voicing concerns about water consumption, impacts on the Great Salt Lake, and reliance on natural gas power.
- Commission Chairman Tyler Vincent reported officials received more than 2,500 public comments, with 262 submissions from Box Elder County residents receiving priority consideration during review.
- Responding to criticism, O'Leary stated they plan to combine water and air cooling for the facility, though current plans indicate reliance on natural gas from the Ruby Pipeline.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Following contentious meeting, Box Elder County OKs massive data center project
TREMONTON — Utah’s sprawling “hyperscale” data center is a go. Thor Dorosh speaks to protesters outside the Box Elder County Commission meeting in Tremonton on Monday, May 4. Photo by Rick Egan/The Salt Lake Tribune After delaying its decision by a week, the three-member Box Elder County Commission voted unanimously Monday to approve the massive energy and data campus backed by Utah’s Military Installation Development Authority and celebrity in…
Kevin O'Leary says opponents of his Utah data center are 'professional protesters' — and some are powered by AI
Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagesKevin O'Leary says paid activists, and some AI-generated ones, are opposed to his Utah data center.Despite protests, the 40,000-acre project was unanimously approved on Monday.The finished data center is expected to generate and consume twice the energy used by the whole state."Shark Tank" investor Kevin O'Leary is defending his plans for a Utah data center that was just approved by state officials …
ussanews.com
Technocracy NewsUtah Just Said Yes to a Data Center The Size Of A Small City — And Residents Are Furious
On the night of May 4, 2026, the Box Elder County Commission in northern Utah voted to approve one of the most audacious infrastructure proposals in American history. The project, dubbed Stratos, would consume 40,000 acres of land — an area roughly two and a half times the size of Manhattan — to house a...
'Shame! Shame! Shame!': Local Residents Furious After Shark Tank Billionaire's Data Center Approved in Utah
County commissioners in Box Elder County, Utah, were deluged with chants of "Shame! Shame! Shame!" from a crowd of hundreds on Monday night as they voted unanimously to move forward with a sprawling "hyperscale" artificial intelligence data center project that many residents fear will cause energy prices to soar and imperil water access.
Hundreds cry out as Utah commissioners wave in massive data center
Amid boos and screams from hundreds of community members, Box Elder County commissioners in Utah unanimously approved two resolutions Monday in support of a 40,000-acre data center campus proposed for an unincorporated site in the county.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 58% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
