Proposed Box Elder data center sparks debate among students

A proposed data center development in Box Elder County is drawing concern from some Utah State University students and researchers who say the project raises questions about water use, energy demand and environmental impacts. 

The proposed project, referred to as the Stratos Project, would span roughly 40,000 acres in Box Elder County and support artificial intelligence and cloud computing infrastructure. The development has received statewide attention because of its proposed scale and projected energy demands. 

Students at Utah State University say they have noticed increasing controversy surrounding the proposed development both online and in conversations on campus. 

“I think just in general we’ve seen a lot of discourse and polarizing opinions with data centers and AI use,” recent Utah State graduate Courtney Williams said, “and now being so close to it would increase them.” 

Another student, Kinsley Sorensen, said she believes the project could deepen tensions among students. 

“I just think it’s contributing to increased polarization and conflict on a Utah State University campus in general,” Sorensen said. “I can’t even imagine what sorts of debates this will spark on campus and the general controversy.” 

The proposed development has generated public backlash in Box Elder County, where residents and environmental advocates have raised concerns about water use, fossil fuel consumption and long-term environmental effects. Supporters of the project, including state leaders and developers, say it could bring jobs and economic development to northern Utah. 

For many students, however, the conversation centers on environmental sustainability and the long-term effects of a project of this size.

“The level of the Great Salt Lake ebbs and flows every decade or so, but never to the degree it has been right now,” Sorensen said. “I don’t think it would be to that degree if this proposed data center is actually put in place.” 

Williams said she is skeptical of claims that the project could operate without significant environmental impacts. 

“We live in a desert,” Williams said. “I think we’ll see more droughts and dryness, and everybody’s going to feel the effects of increased power use.” 

Concerns about water use are also being echoed by researchers at USU. 

David Tarboton, a USU water resources engineering professor, said concerns about water use are reasonable given the project’s location within the Great Salt Lake watershed and uncertainty surrounding how much water it would require. 

“The water that they use would otherwise drain into the Great Salt Lake, so there could be an impact on the Great Salt Lake,” Tarboton said. 

Tarboton said one of his first reactions to the proposal was concern about its scale and the lack of publicly available technical details about its design and resource needs. 

“There should be more information and more transparency on the water impacts,” Tarboton said. “How much water would it actually use?” 

He also said many Utah residents may not fully understand how closely connected local water systems are to the health of the Great Salt Lake, which has reached historically low levels in recent years amid ongoing drought and increased demand. 

Students expressed frustration with the public approval process surrounding the project. Williams said she felt community concerns were not fully reflected in discussions about the proposal and how input was considered. 

“When they did talk about it in their council meeting and viewers were invited to come, people were really vocal about not wanting it there,” Williams said, “which maybe doesn’t reflect the opinions of everybody, which is fine, but it’s definitely a population that’s there and should be heard and listened to.” 

As debate continues across Utah, students at USU say the proposal has become more than a conversation about technology infrastructure. For many, it reflects broader concerns about growth, environmental sustainability and the future of communities in northern Utah.