What the Box Elder County Data Center could mean for Utah

Published May 5, 2026 at 2:17 PM MDT

This week, Box Elder County commissioners green lit a 40,000-acre data center in Hansel Valley. Those in favor, including Gov. Cox, say it will bring needed jobs to the state and boost national security. Detractors argue that it’s an environmental disaster waiting to happen, draining the Great Salt Lake's water table and increasing the state's pollution. We'll talk with two reporters carefully following this story.

Dubbed the Stratos Project, the data center is the brainchild of Kevin O’Leary, a Canadian businessman and former “Shark Tank” star, who says the facility will rely on the “best technology.” When brought fully online, the data center is projected to generate and use nearly double the amount of power already consumed by the entire state of Utah. It will also require enough water to support 20,000 local homes. Salt Lake Tribune reporter Samantha Moilanen and Atlantic staff writer Matteo Wong will join us to talk about the controversy surrounding the data center and what it means for local communities when hyperscale data centers come to town.

GUESTS –

Samantha Moilanen | reporter for The Salt Lake Tribune

Matteo Wong | Staff writer for The Atlantic

Airdate: May 7, 2026