Referendum Effort Threatens 40,000-Acre Stratos Data Center Project in Box Elder County

A public forum recently held at the Box Elder County Fairgrounds addressed mounting local opposition to the Stratos Project, a massive proposed data center. Critics, including environmental researchers and the Box Elder Accountability Referendum (BEAR) group, raised significant concerns over the development's potential impact on the Great Salt Lake’s water levels and air quality. The project site is situated in an area where existing water rights total roughly 13,000 acre-feet, or more than 4 billion gallons annually, sparking intense scrutiny and multiple withdrawn water-transfer applications.

Panelists highlighted environmental risks, including a potential rise in local temperatures by 10 to 12 degrees Fahrenheit and concerns over natural gas emissions linked to the Ruby Pipeline. The project’s status remains in limbo as local organizers await a decision regarding a citizens' referendum that could invalidate the county's previous approval and force a public vote. The development currently falls under the oversight of the Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA), though opponents are actively seeking to challenge this authority to ensure residents have final say on the project’s future.