Utah's approval of the Stratos datacenter project, which will span more than 40,000 acres in Box Elder County, has sparked significant public outcry due to concerns over its environmental impact. The facility is projected to require about 9GW of power, surpassing the entire state's energy consumption. Critics, including Franque Bains of the Sierra Club, argue that this project will exacerbate the ongoing crisis of the Great Salt Lake, which is already suffering from severe drought and shrinking due to agricultural water diversion and climate change. The datacenter could raise the state’s greenhouse gas emissions by 50%, leading to increased local temperatures by 2°F to 5°F during the day and 8°F to 12°F at night, according to physicist Rob Davies. Despite the backlash, venture capitalist Kevin O'Leary, who supports the project, claims it will create thousands of jobs and enhance the U.S. position in the AI sector. In response to public dissent, a group has filed for a referendum to reverse the county commissioners' approval, aiming to collect 5,422 signatures within 45 days. Governor Spencer Cox has stated that the project must not harm the Great Salt Lake or increase energy costs, emphasizing the need for responsible development aligned with Utah values.