Stratos data center sparks outcry as Utah approves project larger than Manhattan

Utah has formally approved construction of the Stratos data center, one of the largest AI facilities in the world, despite fierce criticism over the energy and water risks to the state.

Scale of the project

Stratos will occupy more than 40,000 acres (62 square miles) in Box Elder County in northwestern Utah. For comparison, that is larger than Manhattan. The center will consist of three separate facilities, each a large, extremely high-capacity computing complex.

The energy crisis

The figure is staggering: Stratos will consume about 9 gigawatts of electricity. The entire state of Utah currently uses less electricity than this single data center needs. Such demand will put enormous pressure on the state's power system:

• Consumption 9 times higher than the current consumption of the whole state
• New generating capacity and grid connections must be built
• Risk of higher electricity prices for households and small businesses
• Dependence on new sources of power generation

A water crisis in the desert

The second problem is water. Utah has been suffering a severe drought for several years. Lakes and reservoirs are at historically low levels. Stratos will use a significant volume of water to cool its servers. That will worsen the situation in a region where water is already a scarce resource.

"This is an irresponsible decision for a region that is already

suffering from a lack of water," say local activists and environmental advocates.

The public is concerned that the private interests of the AI industry are being placed above the well-being of millions of the state's residents.

What it means

The approval of Stratos shows the strength of the AI lobby in the US: the economic interests of the tech industry often outweigh environmental and resource risks. For Utah, it may mean short-term economic growth, but the long-term energy and water problems will remain the state's burden.