Kevin O’Leary-backed Utah AI data center plan downsized after local backlash
Kevin O’Leary-backed plans for a 40,000-acre AI data centre district in Utah have been cut to about 20,000 acres after strong local opposition. Residents have raised concerns over the project’s energy and water use, environmental impact and public review. Developers say the project could create thousands of jobs and support US computing and national defence.
Kevin O’Leary, a prominent investor, initially backed a 40,000-acre AI data center district in Utah, with the potential to generate up to 9 gigawatts of power. However, due to local opposition, the project has been downsized to approximately 20,000 acres. Utah Public Radio reported that concerns over the environmental impact, water and energy use, and the degree of public review before moving ahead led to the reduction.
The project, known as the Stratos Project, was planned for Box Elder County in northwest Utah and originally covered an area half the size of Salt Lake City. Residents expressed worries about the scale of the development, potential environmental effects, and the limited time available to review the plans. Despite the reduction, O’Leary maintained that the project could bolster the local economy and increase US computing and energy capacity.
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