Massive 40,000-acre AI data center approved in Utah despite environmental warnings
commissioners approved kevin o'leary's 40,000-acre stratos project, a 9gw ai data center that could consume double utah's peak power.
box elder county commissioners greenlit the stratos project, a data center complex covering 40,000 acres to support us ai dominance. backed by investor kevin o'leary, the campus aims to draw 9gw of power, doubling utah's 2025 peak demand, primarily through on-site natural gas generation. experts warn the resulting 16gw thermal output and 448 billion cubic feet of annual gas usage will cause significant environmental damage and heat pollution. despite receiving state support, the project still needs environmental permits before construction can begin.