Rowdy crowd doesn’t deter Box Elder commissioners from approving data center project

Box Elder County Commission Chairman Tyler Vincent tries to gavel the crowd to order at a special meeting to consider a proposed data center project in the county. Moments later, the commissioners retired to a side room where they continued the meeting and voted to send the project forward. (Business Journal screen capture) 

Amid choruses of boos and a repeated chant of “shame, shame,” Box Elder County commissioners approved a pair of resolutions last week, paving the way for a massive data center in the rural western part of their county. 

The trio voted unanimously to send the project forward. 

The commission had scheduled the special meeting to consider the proposed Stratos Project Area, postponing the decision from a week earlier when a crowd composed primarily of opponents of the development overcrowded commission chambers in Brigham City. The May 4 meeting was moved to the Box Elder County Fairgrounds Fine Arts Building in Tremonton to accommodate a larger crowd.

The Stratos Project, a “hyperscale” data center project, is a joint development between Utah’s Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA) — which approved the deal with a series of resolutions in April — and developer O’Leary Digital Utah Development Co., with TV personality Kevin O’Leary of ABC-TV’s Shark Tank at the helm. Canadian entrepreneur O’Leary, who’s known as “Mr. Wonderful” on the popular TV show, will market the project under the name “Wonder Valley.”

At last week’s meeting, commissioners Tyler Vincent, Boyd Bingham and Lee Perry approved a pair of resolutions that sends the project into the next phase, which includes seeking approvals from various federal and state agencies.

The first of the two resolutions approved by the commission ratified an agreement with MIDA to create the project area. The commission told attendees that the approval included “guardrails,” including restrictions on noise levels, building heights, compliance with “dark skies” regulations and the inclusion of a local landowner on the Development Review Committee that will oversee and review the project throughout the construction.

The second resolution allows developers to add private land to the project. Much of the land in the Stratos Project Area is privately owned, and developers have reached agreements with all the owners, according to a previous release.

Last week’s meeting was repeatedly interrupted by shouts and chants from the hundreds of dissenters in attendance. Many carried signs protesting the development and were not shy about expressing their views. Several witnesses spoke to the commissioners as the din grew louder.

At a point about 30 minutes into the gathering, frustrated Commission Chairman Vincent unsuccessfully tried to gavel the rowdy crowd — emboldened by Vincent’s announcement that no public comment would be taken — to order, prompting Bingham to shout, “Oh, for hell’s sake, grow up.” Moments later, the commissioners stood in unison and retired to a small side room where they continued the meeting out of sight — and earshot — of the raucous audience.

As Utah Highway Patrol officers and deputies from the Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office stood guard, the commissioners heard from one more witness before bringing the proposals to a vote and approving them. The closed-door proceedings were broadcast to the crowd via a large video screen in the main hall.

“Today’s decision isn’t the end of the oversight process, but just the beginning,” Vincent said in a statement following the vote. “We appreciate all the residents who shared comments, questions and concerns with us as we took the necessary time to do a thoughtful evaluation of the project. The agreement we negotiated with MIDA reflects thoughtful consideration of long-term economic opportunity, infrastructure planning and responsible stewardship.”

“There are going to be some in our community that were not happy with the decision we made today, but there are also members of our community that are going to be very pleased by the decision we made today,” Perry said in a post-meeting press conference that included O’Leary spokesperson Casey Hill and MIDA Executive Director
Paul Morris.

“The combination of site location and design make Stratos one of the most sustainable and effective data centers in the country,” Morris told reporters. “This project reflects what’s possible when state and local leaders work together to advance strategic infrastructure that supports our military mission, strengthens energy resilience, and delivers long-term economic investment. We look forward to continuing that collaboration as this project moves forward.”

Gov. Spencer Cox, an ardent supporter of the project, was not at last week’s commission meeting but issued a statement following the vote.

“The Stratos Project Area represents the kind of forward-thinking investment that strengthens our economy, supports national security and creates meaningful opportunities for Utah families, while being done the right way — in partnership with local communities,” Cox said.