Kevin O'Leary scales back Utah AI data center project

Kevin O'Leary's company, O'Leary Digital, has stated it was 'caught off guard' by a letter from Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams calling for a 75% reduction in the proposed AI data center campus, known as the Stratos Project. Adams, who also chairs the Military Installation Development Authority, wants the Box Elder County project scaled down from 40,000 acres to approximately 10,000 acres. He also seeks stronger commitments regarding water conservation, environmental review, heat reduction, and public transparency. O'Leary, however, has defended the project, calling the proposed reduction 'outrageous' and stating he is 'not walking away' from it. The Stratos Project, intended to support artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and defense operations, has become a contentious issue in Utah due to concerns over its substantial energy demands (7.5 to 9 gigawatts), potential water usage, air quality impact, and effects on the rural character of the county. Utah Governor Spencer Cox recently signed an executive order establishing a 'higher bar for data center development' in the state, addressing concerns about water resources, air quality, utility rates, wildlife, and quality of life.