1. United States
2. Utah
3. Letter

I am writing as a Utah resident to urge state and local leaders to slow down approval of the proposed O’Leary/Stratos hyperscale AI data center project in Box Elder County. This project appears to be moving quickly despite major unanswered questions about water use, energy generation, tax incentives, and long-term public costs. Reporting indicates the project could involve thousands of acres, major natural gas-powered energy infrastructure, and a reduced MIDA energy tax rate from the usual 6% to 0.5%. For a project of this scale, Utah residents deserve a much clearer explanation of who benefits, who pays, and what environmental tradeoffs are being accepted. My concerns are simple: Utah is already facing serious water constraints, and the public still does not have clear information about where the water will come from, how much will be used for cooling, or how much will be required for the associated power generation. I am also concerned that relying on major new natural gas infrastructure moves Utah in the wrong direction when large AI facilities should be held to a higher standard for renewable or low-carbon energy use. I am not opposed to technology or economic development. But this is not a small decision. Before any final approvals or tax reductions move forward, I urge you to require full transparency on water sourcing, total projected water use, power generation impacts, emissions, grid/ratepayer implications, and the long-term fiscal impact of reducing the energy tax so dramatically. Please slow this process down and require independent public review before Utah commits to a project of this size.