Box Elder County Data Center Sparks Outrage Amid Water Rights Dispute
Plans for a massive data center in Box Elder County, Utah face backlash over water diversion requests, stirring community protests and controversy.
The proposed Stratos Data Center in Box Elder County is drawing significant ire from local residents and environmental activists. Renderings show a sprawling complex of glass buildings set to cover 40,000 acres in Hansel Valley. The project is not just a visual blight; it's a looming environmental disaster.
The controversy centers on a contentious water rights application. Initially, plans aimed to divert a staggering 1,900-acre feet of water for a natural gas plant. Although this application was withdrawn, a new request for 11-acre feet has reignited protests.
Nearly 4,000 people have formally objected to the water diversion, highlighting the community's anger and resolve. They don't want this project to plunder precious water resources, especially near the fragile Great Salt Lake.
Celebrity investor Kevin O'Leary has muddied the waters further by alleging that opposition groups have ties to China—a claim yet to be substantiated. The Alliance for a Better Utah, one of the groups in question, dismisses these allegations as baseless.
“We're not sponsored by China, we're just a small, feisty organization trying to do our best in this world.”
This data center proposal is a textbook example of corporate overreach, prioritizing profit over people. The community's voice is clear: this project must not proceed without addressing legitimate concerns about water usage and environmental impact.
- New renderings released for Box Elder County data center as water rights dispute continues — FOX 13 News, Mythili Gubbi
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