Utah Governor Issues Executive Order on Data Center Standards Utah’s rapid push to host massive AI data centers has collided with local fears over water, pollution, and quality of life, culminating in a new executive order that raises the bar for future projects.

Early approvals and rising backlash

Tensions began building in Box Elder County after commissioners approved the Stratos Project, a proposed 40,000‑acre hyperscale data center campus that could reach 9 gigawatts of power at full buildout, despite significant community opposition. Residents packed council meetings, circulated petitions, and eventually staged protests outside the Utah State Capitol as worries mounted over noise, air quality, traffic, and water use near the already‑stressed Great Salt Lake.

The project, backed by “Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary and also branded “Wonder Valley,” was promoted by supporters as a job creator and engine of economic growth. Opponents argued that unchecked data‑center expansion would undermine local wildlife, utility ratepayers, and overall quality of life.

Governor Cox’s executive order

On Friday, Governor Spencer Cox responded by signing an executive order establishing what he called a “higher bar for data center development in Utah.” The order, effective immediately, directs state agencies to follow eight principles that address water resources, air quality, wildlife protection, impacts on utility rates, and “transparent, meaningful and thorough opportunities for public comment.”

Cox said Utahns should have confidence that “water resources, air quality, utility rates, wildlife, and quality of life will be protected,” framing the move as aligning data‑center growth with “Utah values.”

New constraints on Stratos and future projects

The order also reshapes the Stratos Project’s path by requiring a phased approach: developers must seek new permits for each planned expansion rather than relying on a single blanket approval. This effectively gives regulators and the public recurring leverage over its growth.

Globally, AI demand is driving a surge in data‑center construction, but Utah’s new rules signal that such infrastructure will only be welcomed under stricter environmental safeguards and with more robust public consent.

1. Business Insider – “Utah’s governor just tightened the rules for Kevin O’Leary’s giant AI data center”. “Utah’s governor is all for new AI data centers — under certain conditions.” https://www.businessinsider.com/utah-data-center-kevin-oleary-stratos-backlash-new-rules-governor-2026-5

2. The Next Web – “A 9-gigawatt data centre outraged a Utah community. The governor just issued new rules.” “Utah’s governor issued an executive order setting new standards for data centres after a 9 GW project backed by Kevin O’Leary sparked protests.” https://thenextweb.com/news/utah-governor-data-centre-rules-oleary-stratos-backlash

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