“We pissed off a lot of people”: Giant data center plan cut 50% amid protests

In a significant shift, one of the largest data center initiatives globally has been scaled back dramatically due to mounting local opposition. Originally planned to span nearly three times the area of Manhattan across various sites in Utah, the Stratos data center project in Box Elder County is now set to be halved before construction begins. The primary concern for residents has been the project's potential impact on local water resources, especially the delicate ecosystem of the Great Salt Lake. Many community members expressed their willingness to invest in protecting these vital resources, even contributing a $15 fee to voice their objections against the transfer of 1,900 acre-feet of water from a nearby ranch to the expansive data center. Additional worries among locals include the likelihood of increased electricity costs, risks to air quality, and threats to local wildlife and land. Kevin O’Leary, a venture capitalist and prominent figure on the television show Shark Tank, is spearheading the development. In a candid interview with a local ABC affiliate, he admitted to miscalculating the public's reaction and expressed regret over the lack of transparency at the project's outset. “We really messed it up,” O’Leary stated, acknowledging that he and state officials had misjudged public sentiment, expecting enthusiasm for what they saw as a significant local investment. He admitted, “We pissed off a lot of people, and that’s not how I conduct business.” As residents rallied to safeguard their environment and sought greater clarity, Utah Senate President Stuart Adams, a Republican, urged O’Leary to reduce the project's scale by an even more drastic 75%. At a gala event in Washington, D.C., O’Leary indicated he felt compelled to comply, resulting in a revised plan that now encompasses 20,000 acres instead of the initial 40,000. Of this newly designated land, 10,000 acres will remain untouched, allowing for only 25% of the original site to be developed into the data center, a move O’Leary's team described as a response to the Senate president's requests.