Governor Spencer Cox stated that the massive Stratos Project data center in northern Utah will not rely solely on natural gas for power. The Republican governor emphasized that subsequent phases should incorporate nuclear, geothermal, and solar energy instead.
The 40,000-acre facility, backed by Kevin O’Leary, has faced protests over potential air pollution and water use near the Great Salt Lake. Officials with the Military Installation Development Authority initially indicated the project would draw power entirely from the Ruby Pipeline natural gas line. Cox told The Salt Lake Tribune that the first phase may use natural gas but later stages must shift to other sources. He also criticized the approval process by MIDA, noting that future decisions should involve his office and the legislature. The project remains in early planning stages with limited details released so far.