Box Elder County Approves Stratos Datacenter, a Project Set to Double Utah's Power Use
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 5
Box Elder County Approves Stratos Datacenter, a Project Set to Double Utah's Power Use
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 5
Summary
Box Elder County commissioners approved the Stratos datacenter last month despite fierce local opposition over water demand, power bills and pressure on the shrinking Great Salt Lake.
Twice the size of Manhattan, the project would by itself double Utah's energy use and raise the state's emissions by about 50%, making it one of the world's largest datacenter developments.
Kevin O'Leary, a key backer, and other supporters say such projects are needed for the AI race with China, while critics argue AI datacenters are locking drought-prone regions into heavy water use and gas-fired power.
The Utah fight reflects a broader US backlash as hundreds of AI-linked datacenters spread; some estimates put datacenter cooling demand at 73 billion gallons of water by 2028.
As AI booms, is turning Utah's desert into a 'Sahara' a necessary price for our technological progress?
With AI's growing thirst for water and power, who ultimately pays when the wells and the grid run dry?
Utah’s Stratos Data Center Project Cut by 30,000 Acres: Public Pressure Forces Major Environmental Concessions
Overview
In June 2026, Kevin O'Leary and O'Leary Digital scaled back their Stratos data center project in Utah after facing strong public and political opposition, especially over environmental concerns and land use in sensitive areas. This backlash led Governor Spencer Cox to issue an Executive Order to protect the Great Salt Lake and air quality, marking a major shift in state policy. O'Leary Digital agreed to reduce the project's footprint and address state demands, while lawmakers prepared for further legislative action. The Stratos project now stands as a turning point for how Utah balances economic growth with environmental protection and public input.