Utah Faces Backlash Over 9-Gigawatt Stratos Data Center as Cox Retreats From Support
Updated
Updated · Grist · May 18
Utah Faces Backlash Over 9-Gigawatt Stratos Data Center as Cox Retreats From Support
5 articles · Updated · Grist · May 18
A 40,000-acre data center proposed by Kevin O’Leary and partners has triggered fierce backlash in Utah, with Governor Spencer Cox publicly backing away after residents raised concerns over water, air quality, energy and land use.
Scientists say the Stratos Project could consume more than double Utah’s current electricity use, lift state carbon emissions 64%, and dump about 16 gigawatts of heat into Hansel Valley.
Robert Davies, a Utah State University physicist, estimates the complex could raise local temperatures by 5°F in daytime and as much as 28°F at night, threatening wildlife, soils and dust conditions near the shrinking Great Salt Lake.
Developers say they can secure water through 3,000 acre-feet of on-site rights and about 10,000 acre-feet under contract from Snowville, though the only filed transfer application—1,900 acre-feet from Bar H Ranch—was withdrawn and is expected to be refiled.
The fight has become a high-profile example of a broader US clash over hyperscale data centers, as communities push back against projects that strain power grids and scarce water supplies.
Can technology stop a data center from turning Utah's desert into a Sahara, as scientists warn?
Is Utah's battle a preview of a national conflict over the immense environmental cost of the AI boom?
With huge tax breaks and few permanent jobs, are hyperscale data centers a good deal for local communities?
Utah’s $108 Million Stratos Data Center: Public Backlash, Environmental Risks, and the Fight Over AI Infrastructure
Overview
The Stratos Project, a massive AI data center in Utah, has sparked intense public backlash and political turmoil. Local protests—marked by banners mocking celebrity investor Kevin O’Leary—reflect a growing national resistance to large-scale data centers. O’Leary has dismissed these protests, claiming many demonstrators are outsiders paid to object. This local opposition is part of a broader trend, as similar protests are emerging across the country, leading some communities to consider bans on such projects. The escalating conflict highlights deep concerns about environmental impacts, transparency, and the influence of powerful investors on local decisions.