Box Elder County is Facing One of the Worst Proposals for a Data Center, Yet
UPHE stands strongly against the data center, and the 21 pending applications for data centers across the state due to the extremely concerning environmental and health impacts of data centers. We’ve seen developers lie across the country, water quality and pressure in residents’ homes severely impacted by their development, and noise pollution reaching unbearable levels, as well as unruly increases on energy demands.
Data Centers:
- Box Elder County (below)
- Iron County
- Millard County
Take Action:
EPA is proposing a rule change that would allow developers to begin construction BEFORE they receive their air quality permits. See UPHE’s comments and send in your own until June 29.
The Rally
On May 14, 2026 hundreds gathered at the Utah State Capitol to rally and deliver an open letter, signed by over 7,000 Utahns, to Governor Cox, opposing the Stratos Data Center proposal for Box Elder County.
News Coverage:
ABC 4 (May 14, 2026)
ABC 4 (May 23, 2026)
KSL
KSL TV Channel 5
KUTV Channel 2
Fox 13
Salt Lake Tribune (May 14, 2026)
Salt Lake Tribune (May 23, 2026)
UPHE in the News:
AI data centers in Utah: What we know and what’s at stake
ABC4 covered the AI data center proposal and mentioned UPHE as one of the groups following the issue and posting updates.
Key to national security or an environmental threat? Data center debate coming to a head
KSL mentioned UPHE’s “full-throated critique of data centers, multiplying around the country and world to provide the computing power to meet the growing use and demand for artificial intelligence. “People in communities with data centers have been speaking out about issues with their water quality, noise pollution, energy use and climate changes like raising local temperatures as far out as 6 miles from these facilities, including temperature spikes as high as 16 degrees,” the group said in a post earlier this week.”
Here’s what we know about this proposal:
- Stratos is being proposed by Canadian billionaire and Shark Tank celebrity, Kevin O’Leary
- The data center is projected to nearly double the entire state of Utah’s electricity 2025 peak demand at full build out
- It is being proposed to draw energy from an existing natural gas pipeline, but Governor Cox has said at full build-out, the state would like to see nuclear energy in place
- Developers are lying about and dismissing public opposition
- Developers are severely downplaying the amount of water required
- A Utah board agreed to cut the usual 6% energy tax to almost nothing, at .5%
- Utahns protested water rights for the development. At $15 each to protest, around $60,000 was given to the state agency. Developers withdrew the application but will reapply under new Utah law which benefits them.
- Utahns have submitted a referendum. It is unclear if it may proceed yet.
With 21 data centers proposed across the state, Utah could be forever changed if we don’t take a stand.
Energy & Pollution Estimates:
Our friends at Utah Clean Energy compiled the following estimates based on a full build out of the proposed 9 GW data center. The numbers vary depending on if energy is produced with combined-cycle combustion turbine (CCCT) or reciprocating internal combustion engine (RICE).
- Produce 1,857 – 12,000 tons of NOx/year.[i]
This is ~5 times more than the entirety of Box Elder County’s industrial emissions of NOx on the low end, or double the entire Salt Lake County industrial emissions of NOx, or equivalent to the annual NOx emissions from Utah’s entire oil/gas industry on the high end.
- Produce 30.2 – 41 million tons of CO2/year.2
This would increase Utah’s CO2 emissions by 55% on the low end.
- Use 2 – 16.6 billion gallons of water/year to operate the gas turbines.4
This amount of annual water use would fill approximately 25,000 Olympic-size swimming pools, on the high end.
BACKGORUND:
Shark Tank’s Canadian billionaire, Kevin O’Leary, has named Utah as a target for a less than exciting “investment.” He applauded Utah State officials for their eagerness to volunteer our great state for a ‘hyperscale’ data center.
The development is proposed for 40,000 acres in Box Elder County.
Most of us know by now the many many environmental and health issues associated with data centers. People in communities with data centers have been speaking out about issues with their water quality, noise pollution, energy use, and climate changes like raising local temperatures as far out as 6 miles from these facilities, including temperature spikes as high as 16 degrees above background,.
In just the initial phase this particular project would use nearly as much energy as the entire state’s current average electricity use. At full build out, it would be more than double our current electricity use.
Oh yeah, developers would get a huge tax break too. A Utah board agreed to cut the usual 6% energy tax to almost nothing, at .5%, as if the Canadian billionaire behind it needs tax breaks that no one can get.
The Box Elder County Commission held a meeting late April, 2026. Although they did not allow public comment, the room was PACKED with concerned residents. The Commission voted to revisit the issue and still did NOT hear public comment on Monday, May 4th.
This is a pivotal moment. Decisions made in the coming days will shape air quality, water resources, and public health across Utah for decades. Projects of this scale don’t just stay in Box Elder County; their impacts ripple statewide, affecting everything from energy demand to pollution burdens in our communities. The pollution from this hyper-scale data center will be inhaled throughout the Wasatch Front.
Now is the time to speak up. Call your state legislators and reach out to Governor Spencer Cox to make it clear that Utahns expect responsible, health-protective decision-making, not rushed approvals and hand outs to billionaires.