Venture capitalist Kevin O'Leary has cut plans for his massive Stratos data center project in half, reducing the footprint from 40,000 acres to roughly 20,000 acres. The decision comes after intense community backlash in Box Elder County, Utah, where residents fiercely opposed the project's water demands and a perceived lack of public input.
O'Leary admitted to a local ABC affiliate that he 'really screwed it up,' saying, 'We pissed off a lot of people, and that’s not the way I do business.' He now personally taking over all communications.
Utah Senate President Stuart Adams, a Republican, had requested a 75% reduction. O'Leary, speaking at an AI gala in Washington, DC, said he had 'no choice' but to comply. Of the remaining 20,000 acres, 10,000 will remain undeveloped.
Despite the concession, critics remain deeply skeptical. Brenna Williams, a leader of the opposition referendums, dismissed the scaled-back plan as 'excellent performance art,' asserting the region remains too vulnerable for such a facility.
The controversy has now become a political lightning rod, influencing local elections and highlighting a national shift against data center development. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has already paused tax breaks for data centers in his state.