“We pissed off a lot of people”: Giant data center plan cut 50% amid protests A vast data center project planned across multiple Utah sites, intended to be almost three times the size of Manhattan, has been halved in scope due to strong local opposition concerned about water resources, electricity costs, and environmental impacts. Venture capitalist Kevin O’Leary, the project’s developer, acknowledged mishandling transparency and public engagement, stating he had “no choice” but to reduce the project’s size significantly. Despite the compromise, some residents remain skeptical, viewing the reduction as “performance art” and questioning the long-term impact and the underlying motivations for the project.

• A large-scale data center project in Box Elder County, Utah, has been reduced by 50% from its initial plans.
• Local residents raised concerns about water depletion, increased electricity bills, air quality, wildlife, and land use, with particular worry for the Great Salt Lake.
• Developer Kevin O’Leary admitted to poor transparency and public engagement, stating he had “no choice” but to scale back the project.
• Utah Senate President Stuart Adams had asked O’Leary to reduce the project’s scope by 75%.
• O’Leary plans to take personal control of project communications to rebuild trust and ensure transparency.
• Critics argue the reduction is insufficient and the project’s capacity may not change.
• The backlash has influenced political decisions, with some suggesting state officials are responding due to reelection concerns.
• Some opposition is linked to broader concerns about data center development, with a growing trend of public opposition nationwide.
• O’Leary suggested foreign interference, specifically China, funded opposition, a claim denied by the Alliance for a Better Utah, which countered that O’Leary is the foreign interest. Continue reading https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/06/we-pissed-off-a-lot-of-people-giant-data-center-plan-cut-50-amid-protests/