Utah’s Stratos AI Data Center: Box Elder County Approves Kevin O’Leary’s 40,000-Acre Campus
What is the Stratos Project in Box Elder County?
The Stratos Project is a proposed 40,000-acre AI data center and energy campus in Hansel Valley, Box Elder County, backed by Kevin O’Leary’s O’Leary Digital. Box Elder County commissioners unanimously approved two resolutions on May 4, 2026. At full buildout the campus would consume 9 gigawatts of power — more than twice what the entire state of Utah currently uses — all generated on-site through natural gas.
Key Numbers
- 40,000 acres — project area in Hansel Valley, Box Elder County
- 9 GW — power at full buildout (Utah currently uses ~4 GW)
- 3 GW — Phase 1 generation capacity
- 4,000 temporary construction jobs
- 2,000+ permanent jobs projected
- $5.4 million/year — developer prepayment to Box Elder County for first 3 years
- Energy: Natural gas via Ruby Pipeline
- Timeline: Phase 1 starting within months; full buildout ~10 years
How It Got Approved
Utah’s Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA) approved the project first, after a U.S. Air Force official cited a Trump administration executive order for domestic AI infrastructure. The Box Elder County Commission then unanimously approved two resolutions on May 4, 2026 — as approximately 1,100 residents packed the county fairgrounds in protest.
Arguments For the Project
- Thousands of jobs in a rural county
- Developer funds all infrastructure within the project area
- Off-grid design — won’t raise state utility rates
- Supports U.S. military AI and national security
- Water reuse system designed to return water to the Great Salt Lake
Unresolved Concerns
- The natural gas plant would produce more emissions than the entire state of Utah
- Prevailing winds may push emissions south toward the Wasatch Front and Davis County
- Water rights application received over 1,800 protests by early May 2026
- Many residents felt the approval process moved too fast
What Comes Next
Commissioner Lee Perry stated: “This is not the end of the process. It’s the beginning.” Upcoming steps include Utah Division of Water Rights hearings, environmental review, and town hall meetings planned by the county.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kevin O’Leary and what is the Stratos Project?
Kevin O’Leary is a celebrity investor from Shark Tank. His company O’Leary Digital is the lead developer of the Stratos Project — a 40,000-acre AI data center campus in Hansel Valley, Box Elder County, approved by county commissioners on May 4, 2026.
Could Stratos affect air quality in Davis County?
Environmental groups have raised this concern. The site is outside the EPA’s Wasatch Front nonattainment zone, but scientists note prevailing winds could carry emissions south. Formal environmental review is still ahead.
