Plans for a large data center complex in rural Utah have sparked public opposition due to concerns about energy use, water consumption and impacts on the Great Salt Lake.
The Stratos Project, backed by investor Kevin O’Leary, would cover 40,000 acres in Box Elder County’s Hansel Valley and require 9 gigawatts of power. County commissioners approved the project in April, but more than 1,000 residents voiced concerns at a meeting that officials declined to extend. Utah Governor Spencer Cox later acknowledged questions about water, air quality and long-term effects on rural areas.
