Utah Governor Sets 2 Conditions on 40,000-Acre Stratos AI Datacenter as Referendum Drive Builds
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 13
Utah Governor Sets 2 Conditions on 40,000-Acre Stratos AI Datacenter as Referendum Drive Builds
5 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 13
Spencer Cox said Friday the Stratos project can proceed only if it does not harm the Great Salt Lake or raise residents’ power bills, with construction starting in phases from an initial 2,000 acres.
The conditions respond to mounting backlash over a 40,000-acre, 9GW AI datacenter in Box Elder County that would use more electricity than Utah currently consumes and draw heavily on water in a drought-stressed region.
Nearly 4,000 objections have already been filed, and a local referendum group is seeking 5,422 signatures in 45 days to force a November vote on the county commissioners’ approval.
Developers last week withdrew a request to divert 1,900 acre-feet of water but plan to refile, a move opponents say resets public objections and requires each new complaint to carry a $15 fee.
Critics say the project could raise Utah’s emissions about 50%, heat the surrounding valley and further strain the shrinking Great Salt Lake, while backer Kevin O’Leary argues it will create jobs and bolster US AI capacity.
Can Utah's massive AI hub coexist with the endangered Great Salt Lake?
Is this Utah datacenter battle a preview of America's future resource wars?
Stratos-MIDA Data Center in Utah: $1 Billion AI Project Sparks Environmental Referendum and Community Uproar
Overview
The Box Elder County Commission’s approval of the Stratos-MIDA Data Center, led by Kevin O’Leary, sparked immediate and widespread opposition in Utah, mainly due to environmental concerns. This led the Box Elder Accountability Referendum (BEAR) group to launch a grassroots effort to overturn the decision through a referendum. BEAR’s actions reflect broader frustrations over a lack of transparency and public input, as well as concerns about outside influence on local decisions. The conflict highlights a community’s determination to protect its environment and assert control over major development projects that could reshape their region.