Kevin O'Leary Proposes Controversial AI Data Centre in Utah Amid Resident Concerns
Kevin O'Leary wants to build a massive AI data centre in Utah. Some residents aren't happy
Image: Cbc
Celebrity investor Kevin O'Leary plans to establish a large AI data centre in Box Elder County, Utah, similar to his $70 billion project in Alberta. While O'Leary claims it will boost the local economy and computing capacity, residents express concerns over environmental impacts, particularly regarding the Great Salt Lake. A local group is pushing for a referendum to allow residents to vote on the project.
- 01The proposed data centre will cover between 10,000 to 13,000 acres and produce up to 7.5 gigawatts of computing power.
- 02O'Leary asserts the project will create approximately 2,000 permanent jobs and generate additional tax revenue for Box Elder County.
- 03Residents are worried about the environmental impact, particularly on the already stressed Great Salt Lake ecosystem.
- 04A local group, Box Elder Accountability Referendum, is seeking a public vote on the project, citing a lack of community input in the decision-making process.
- 05The project is designed to use a closed-loop cooling system to minimize water consumption, but residents remain skeptical about its feasibility.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Kevin O'Leary, a prominent investor, is proposing a massive AI data centre in Box Elder County, Utah, which he claims will mirror his ambitious $70 billion project in Alberta, Canada. This data centre is expected to cover between 10,000 to 13,000 acres and deliver 7.5 gigawatts of computing power. Advocates, including O'Leary, argue that the facility could create nearly 2,000 permanent jobs and enhance the local economy through increased tax revenue. However, the project has sparked significant opposition from residents concerned about its environmental impact, particularly on the Great Salt Lake, which is already facing ecological challenges. Critics, including environmental experts, warn that the centre could exacerbate the lake's decline and the region's air quality issues. In response to the county commission's approval of the project, local residents have formed the Box Elder Accountability Referendum, seeking to put the project to a public vote. They argue that the decision-making process has been rushed and lacks transparency. O'Leary has committed to transparency in the development process, stating that all actions will be public and subject to environmental assessments. The project aims to begin construction by the end of next year, pending further approvals.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
The proposed data centre could bring significant economic benefits to Box Elder County through job creation and tax revenue, but it also poses environmental risks that could affect local residents' quality of life.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Reader Poll
Do you support the construction of the AI data centre in Box Elder County?
Connecting to poll...
Read the original article
Visit the source for the complete story.