Why Utah’s massive new data center plan has drawn such a backlash

Published May 16, 2026 2:00pm ET



Despite growing resistance from residents and environmental advocates, Utah officials moved forward with plans for a massive data center project that is poised to be one of the largest in the country.

In the far northwestern corner of Utah, the Box Elder County Commission on May 4 approved a data center project dubbed “Stratos Project.” However, the project has since received major public pushback, with residents raising concerns over its environmental impacts on the area. 

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