Kevin O'Leary halves Project Stratos data center after Utah backlash
After pressure from activists and lawmakers, the Shark Tank star cuts 19,430 acres from his massive Utah data center plan.
Deep Dive
Kevin O'Leary agreed to halve his planned 40,000-acre Project Stratos data center in Utah to roughly 20,000 acres after mounting pressure from residents and activists. The Shark Tank star sent a letter to Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams on Thursday removing 19,430 acres and an additional 620 acres near the highway. Even at this reduced size, the data center will still cover an area larger than Manhattan.
Key Points
- Kevin O'Leary agreed to remove 19,430 acres from the original 40,000-acre Project Stratos data center in Utah.
- Even after cutting acreage, the remaining ~20,000 acres will still be larger than Manhattan.
- O'Leary will implement water-conserving technology and divert excess water to the shrinking Great Salt Lake.
Why It Matters
Highlights the growing conflict between AI infrastructure expansion and environmental sustainability, forcing even billionaires to compromise.