● Covered by 1 source · 2 reportsLow impact1 negative1 neutral
Kevin O'Leary's Utah Data Center Project Faces Local Backlash, Claims of Chinese Interference
Key points
- Kevin O'Leary is developing "Wonder Valley," a 40,000-acre data center in Utah.
- The project includes a 9-gigawatt gas power plant.
- O'Leary claimed Chinese agents were behind local backlash against the project.
- Local residents are opposing the development due to its scale and environmental impact.
- The project is also known as Stratos.
- The project would use more than double the average power of Utah.
- The project has been halted due to local political opposition.
Controversial Data Center Development
Kevin O'Leary, known as "Mr. Wonderful," is spearheading a massive data center project named "Wonder Valley" in Box Elder County, Utah. The development spans 40,000 acres and is intended to be the largest data center globally. It includes plans for a dedicated gas power plant capable of generating 9 gigawatts of electricity, which is more than double Utah's average consumption.
Local Opposition and Secrecy Claims
The project is reportedly being fast-tracked in secret to avoid public scrutiny, leading to significant backlash from Utah residents. Despite O'Leary's efforts to promote the development, local opposition has grown, with many residents expressing concerns about its scale and potential impact.
Claims of Foreign Interference
O'Leary appeared on Fox Business, alleging that Chinese agents were behind the online criticism directed at his project. He stated that after the county commissioners approved the data center, he observed a sudden increase in online opposition, which he attributed to China, suggesting they wanted to hinder U.S. electrical grid and AI compute capacity development. He claimed to have investigated IP addresses and identified individuals he believed were connected to Chinese influence.
Updates
- The project is also known as Stratos.
- The project would use more than double the average power of Utah.
- The project has been halted due to local political opposition.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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How outlets covered it
Kevin O'Leary's plan to build a 40,000-acre data center called Stratos, or Wonder Valley, in Utah has been halted due to significant local political opposition. The project, intended to be the world's largest AI campus with nine gigawatts of power, faced backlash from residents who were not informed during its planning and approval stages. This situation highlights growing local resistance to large-scale AI infrastructure developments.
Kevin O'Leary's "Wonder Valley" data center project in rural Utah, planned to be the world's largest, is facing significant local opposition. O'Leary publicly claimed that Chinese agents were behind the online criticism of the 40,000-acre development, which includes a 9-gigawatt gas power plant.