Kevin O'Leary's plan to build "Stratos"—a massive 40,000-acre AI campus known as "Wonder Valley"—has hit significant roadblocks in Utah. The project, which was touted to require nine gigawatts of power—more than double the average power usage of the entire state—has triggered a political firestorm.
Utah's massive "Wonder Valley" AI data center project faces political backlash and legal hurdles
The controversy stems from how the project was planned and approved. According to an investigation by The Verge, much of the development was coordinated through the Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA), a state agency with the power to override local land-use regulations. This process reportedly left local residents in the dark until O'Leary began publicly promoting the project in late April.
Local opposition has been driven by concerns over the massive energy requirements and the potential impact on the Great Salt Lake, which is currently shrinking due to drought. The political consequences have been severe, contributing to the loss of several political seats, including the Senate president, who also served as the chair of MIDA.
While the project has not been officially cancelled, its momentum has been significantly damaged. Local activists have filed a referendum to repeal the county's consent, a move that is currently being litigated. For now, the development remains in a state of pause as the legal challenges proceed.
Sources
- Inside our months-long investigation into Kevin O’Leary’s Utah data center debacle （The Verge AI, 2026-10-01）