Utah Lawmakers Launch Environmental Study Amidst Stratos Data Center Referendum Push

Utah state lawmakers have initiated a legislative study to evaluate the environmental impacts of data centers, including concerns regarding water usage, noise, air quality, and wildlife conservation. The move comes as the massive, 40,000-acre Stratos project in Box Elder County faces intense public scrutiny and active referendum efforts from local residents seeking to overturn earlier county commission approvals.

The proposed Stratos development, backed by investor Kevin O'Leary, is expected to require between 7.5 and 9 gigawatts of power. While state officials recently approved tax incentives and development guidelines for the project, the new interim committee study aims to establish a factual basis for future legislation, which could arrive as early as the 2027 general session. The state has already implemented new water-use reporting requirements for large data centers that took effect on May 6.