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Kevin O'Leary's Massive Utah Data Center Approved Despite Furious ...
A controversial mega data center project backed by investor and television personality Kevin O’Leary has officially been approved in Utah after a tense county meeting filled with protests, boos, chants, and accusations that local residents were being ignored. The project, known as Stratos, was unanimously approved Monday night by the three-member Box Elder County Commission after officials delayed the decision for a week amid growing backlash from residents and environmental groups. The development is enormous in scale. Plans call for a 40,000-acre energy and hyperscale AI data campus in Hansel Valley north of the Great Salt Lake, with supporters calling it a national security and economic necessity while opponents describe it as an environmental disaster waiting to happen. The debate now reflects a much larger national fight over artificial intelligence infrastructure, energy consumption, water rights, and who ultimately bears the cost of America’s AI expansion. Protesters Warn Utah Is “Being Sold Out” Hundreds of residents packed the meeting venue in Tremonton carrying signs reading “NO data center,” “You can’t drink data,” and “Save our water.” As commissioners discussed projected tax revenue and economic benefits, frustrated residents repeatedly interrupted with chants like “People over profits!” and “We want water!” At one point, tensions escalated so much that county commissioners left the room and continued the meeting virtually while protesters shouted “Shame!” after them. The anger centered largely on fears that the massive project could place enormous pressure on Utah’s already strained water resources and fragile ecosystem surrounding the Great Salt Lake. Many residents believe the project is moving forward too quickly without enough public scrutiny, environmental review, or transparency. Critics argue that ordinary communities are being asked to sacrifice natural resources and long-term sustainability so tech and AI companies can continue expanding at breakneck speed. Kevin O’Leary’s massive data center was approved by a county commission in Utah last night. At 40,000 acres, it would be 2.5x the size of Manhattan. The commission approved the proposal despite opposition from hundreds of locals. pic.twitter.com/1pF9JZD30w — More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) May 5, 2026 Officials Say the Project Is Necessary for America’s AI Future Supporters of the project frame it very differently. Project backers argue that hyperscale data centers are now e...
Utah's governor has made it harder for Kevin O'Leary to build his data ...
Protesters against the Box Elder County data center backed by Kevin O'Leary. Natalie Behring/Getty Images 2026-05-10T09:00:01.247Z Residents in Utah are resisting a data center backed by "Shark Tank" investor Kevin O'Leary. Gov. Spencer J. Cox said on Friday that locals can now expect "clear standards and accountability." Data centers have become a divisive topic during the AI boom. Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox said he's heard the complaints from residents about a data center development backed by "Shark Tank" investor Kevin O'Leary, so he's making some new demands. Cox said he's faced questions this week about the data center's impact on a range of issues — including energy and air quality — which he called "real concerns.""All Utahns should expect clear standards and accountability," Cox said in a lengthy X post on Friday.He said that based on conversations with residents, local leaders, and others, he would undertake a series of "actions" regarding the project. He then addressed various concerns, such as the project's size and its impact on air, water, and the electric grid.He said he'd require the project to obtain new approvals for each phase, with the first "not to exceed" 1.5 gigawatts. That means the developers would need all new approvals to proceed with their expansion plans. He also directed the state's environmental agency to review all permits related to air quality and its Department of Natural Resources to ensure that the state's water is protected and the project uses the most "environmentally sensitive" cooling systems.Cox's effort to assuage residents came after Box Elder County commissioners approved the data center, which will sit on a 40,000-acre campus and is known as the Stratos Project.Residents staged protests and fought with local politicians over the data center, which they worry could raise utility costs, increase noise levels, strain the water supply, and degrade their overall quality of life. Although data centers are adopting more sustainable methods, they can still use millions of gallons of water a day.Data centers have become a divisive topic in America amid the AI boom. Tech companies are desperate for new data centers to power their ever-advancing systems. Many Americans, however, aren't keen on those developments coming to their backyards.O'Leary responded to the pushback earlier this week, saying — without providing evidence — that opposition to the data center may have come from "professional protesters" and suggest...
Box Elder County Erupts in Outrage Over Massive AI Data Center Proposal ...
The project in Box Elder County (Hansel Valley / Stratos Project) is being led by Kevin O'Leary — the Canadian investor and "Mr. Wonderful" from Shark Tank — through his company O'Leary Digital (also referred to as O'Leary Digital Utah Development Company or O'Leary Ventures).
A massive AI data center transforms rural Utah into a national ...
A growing movement in Utah is challenging the "Stratos Project," a city-sized AI data center backed by TV personality Kevin O'Leary, over concerns about democratic oversight, water use, and environmental collapse.
