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Utah Governor Tightens Scrutiny of Stratos AI Data Center as Voters Push for Referendum

State oversight now defines the next phase of a project locals want to send to a vote.

Despite community protest, the Box Elder County commission approved the construction of a 40,000-acre data-center campus near the north shore of the Great Salt Lake.
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TREMONTON, UTAH - MAY 4: Protesters gather ahead of a Box Elder County County Commission meeting to decide whether to approve the construction of a large data center on May 4, 2026 in Tremonton, Utah. The commission approved the construction of a 40,000 acre data center near the north shore of the Great Salt Lake. Hundreds of protesters came to the meeting to oppose the plan. (Photo by Natalie Behring/Getty Images)
Kevin O'Leary at the 83rd Annual Golden Globes in Beverly Hills, California, on January 11, 2026.

Overview

  • Box Elder County approved the 40,000-acre Stratos campus, and residents filed for a November referendum that needs more than 5,000 signatures.
  • Gov. Spencer Cox set phased approvals with the first phase capped at 1.5 gigawatts and told state agencies to review air and water permits.
  • Developers propose up to 9 gigawatts of AI data centers with an on-site natural gas plant, and they say the first gigawatt could come online within two years.
  • Backers, including investor Kevin O’Leary, promise thousands of construction jobs and about 2,000 permanent roles, as critics warn of water strain, heat, emissions, and risks to the Great Salt Lake.
  • The fight now moves to state permit reviews and possible water-rights hearings, signaling a broader test for siting large AI facilities in dry Western landscapes.