'Irresponsible': backlash as Utah approves datacenter twice the size of Manhattan

[marmar]

(Guardian) A plan to create one of the world’s largest datacenters, a gargantuan project spanning an area more than twice the size of Manhattan, has provoked a furious public backlash in Utah amid concerns over its vast energy use and impact upon the state’s stressed water supplies.

The Stratos artificial intelligence datacenter footprint will cover more than 40,000 acres (62 sq miles) over three sites in Box Elder county in north-western Utah. The facility will require about 9GW of power, which is more than the entire state of Utah currently consumes, and suck up a significant amount of water in an area that has been hit by severe drought in recent years.

Last week, the project was approved by the county’s commissioners, despite thousands of objections lodged by Utah residents. Environmentalists have warned that Stratos could imperil the Great Salt Lake ecosystem, including a critical migratory bird habitat, which is already under severe stress.

The lake is shrinking due to water diverted for agriculture and the impact of the climate crisis, placing inhabitants of the nearby Salt Lake City at possible risk of toxic dust clouds as the lake bed dries up. .................(more)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/13/utah-approves-datacenter-backlash

[edhopper]

1. Keep voting for Republicans

and suffer the consequences.

[newdeal2]

3. This is happening everywhere

In blue states too. But yes, Republicans definitely don’t care about the environment or their constituents.

[poli-junkie]

10. That would make a good bumper sticker!

[dalton99a]

2. Kick

[leftstreet]

4. Good grief

DURec

[Hey Joe]

5. This just appears to be spectacularly stupid

and short sighted given our hotter, drier climate.
We are looking at a bleak future when our politicians sell us out for corporate greed on such a large scale.

[MadameButterfly]

21. You'd think they all plan to die in a decade or so

and they don't have children. But I fear they think if they have enough money it won't touch them.

[Cheezoholic]

6. But, but, but.... China will win AI if we don't... n/t

[MadameButterfly]

11. at least they'll promote solar to power it

[SpankMe]

7. I've read that this was unanimously approved by the county commissioners

And there's video of the commissioners angrily shutting down commenters in public commission meetings and even adjourning the public meetings and going private to take votes.

There's been so little transparency in the process that there must be something we don't know about what is motivating the commissioners. They know something the citizens don't. A good journalist needs to dig this up.

Also, it's infuriating for O'Leary to claim the protesters are paid, out-of-town plants when O'Leary, Stratos and the data center itself are out-of-town entities intervening on local concerns. They can get fucked.

[not fooled]

15. Those Utah residents found out how little the commissioners care

what they think.

My eyes were opened when I led neighborhood opposition to a subdivision that violated the county's own zoning, master plan, the wishes of the neighboring military (Marine) base, and an agreement drawn up by the county itself 20 years ago stating that the land would not be subdivided. 98% of local residents opposed (the only ones who didn't worked in development).

The pols (county supervisors, in this case) cared not one whit and voted unanimously to approve, in a desert area where the water table was being rapidly drawn down by overdevelopment. One of the supervisors was the sister of the biggest commercial real estate agent in the area; another owned the roofing company that put roofs on new subdivisions. The others were suspected of being equally corrupt.

The problem as I found out is that the local residents were ignorant and apathetic about local government. There was no functional media to report on what local government did and explain the consequences of their actions to the populace. The entire government was set up to enact the wishes of a few powerful local families and businesses. The residents were treated as an irrelevant annoyance.

Once I figured out what was going on and saw that nothing would change, I moved shortly thereafter.

[MadameButterfly]

18. And the sad thing is we need people like you

in places like this. Once things get this bad, they only get worse.

[MadameButterfly]

17. i've experienced this attitude in NY around the packaging and bottle bills

that have been proposed 3 years in a row, with majority support but we haven't been able to get it to the floor to pass before the session closes.
Over a hundred paid lobbyists spending $10 million paid from afar are campaigning to shut down these bills. Industry is afraid if it passes in NY it might spread. While the activists supporting the bills are New Yorkers showing up for free.

We are trying to eliminate toxic conditions in our communities, remove toxins from food packaging, address overflowing landfills, while reducing costs for voters--but money for corporations matters more to Republicans. All objections to the bills are obvious lies fed to them by corporations. I don't understand how these lawmakers can show their faces.

My representative who claims to be a supporter admits that other bills are a priority of his and tries to argue that his healthcare bill will save more lives. The systems is truly broken if we have to choose between 2 bills that save lives because there isn't time to bring both bills up for a vote.

[not fooled]

22. Most Americans have no idea of the level of corruption in local governments

My experience in that desert town really opened my eyes. I think the same degree of self-dealing and playing up to outside interests is the norm, not the exception, throughout America. The death of local media and lack of civic awareness among the citizenry seals the deal.

IMO the majority of local city and county governments are sordid cesspools of corruption. Minimal if any accountability or oversight.

[Scalded Nun]

8. Pretty big leopard about to enjoy a pretty large scrumptious face meal.

Good luck with your power and water, and do not expect a single fuck from me when you all go down in a blaze of 'You got what you wanted' glory.

[Bluetus]

9. The stupidest thing about this is, other than construction jobs,

The state will get basically nothing in return for their water and electricity. Data centers require very little in onsite presence. And 100% of AI is accessed remotely. It is a technology that is designed for "the cloud" . While the people of Utah are rationing their water, the data center will be serving people in Toronto, Bangkok, Sydney. This will not attract hi-tech workers. They can be anywhere in the world.

[MadameButterfly]

19. Corporations like to claim jobs as a benefit

but rarely is this true. It is even more obvious with AI. Amazing that Republicans fall for it. I'm not even sure they do, they likely just get paid off.

[BidenRocks]

12. There must be restoration laws.

If they build this monster, then when it's purpose is served, the building is razed and environment is restored.
This alone must be undisputable and the cost may deter building.
The restoration monies sit in an escrow account so bankruptcy is no excuse.

[PatrickforB]

13. I have often called these 'tech-bro' billionaires PARASITES and so they are.

These data centers are like the probes mesquitos drive into your skin to suck your blood.

They began by sucking money directly from the treasury through irresponsible tax cuts over decades, and when that worked so well, they sent Elon with his DOGE hackers directly into the treasury to strip the government of people so that the tax cuts could be sustained AND there would also be plenty of grift in the form of sweetheart government contracts.

NOW...

They are inserting their probes directly into the earth to suck away and CONSUME scarce water.

Their probes also go into the power grid and suck away the energy people need for daily life.

Parasites, leeches sucking the life out of the planet itself!

[MadameButterfly]

20. DOGE was so Elon could end a dozen or so investigations

into his own criminal operations. it never was about saving anyone else any money.

[Joinfortmill]

14. Scary shit.

[Figarosmom]

16. Ah, repubs, how they love money over life

They screw themselves. Why so many of these data centers? I don't get it.