Kevin O'Leary Apologizes Over Massive Utah Data Center Proposal

Investor Kevin O'Leary apologized to residents of Box Elder County, Utah, for failing to properly communicate plans for the Stratos hyperscale data center project. The original proposal drew intense criticism from residents, environmental activists, and local lawmakers due to its massive scale, which spanned 40,000 acres and required up to nine gigawatts of energy.

Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams intensified the pressure in a June open letter, specifically calling for a 75% reduction in the project's size. In response to the backlash, O'Leary pledged to reduce the development's footprint and increase transparency regarding the facility's impact on heat, noise, and water resources.

Despite the controversy and the commitment to scale back the project, O'Leary maintains his intention to build the data center. He asserts that the project will serve as a major contributor to the local economy.