tech
Kevin O'Leary tells us the hate for his mega data center is just 'bumps in the road'
Kevin O'Leary told Business Insider he's committed to building his data center campus Utah, despite local protests and legal action.
TL;DR
- Kevin O'Leary's O'Leary Digital and West GenCo LLC are developing a large data center campus called the Stratos Project in Box Elder County, Utah.
- The project has encountered significant local resistance, including petitions, lawsuits, and opposition at planning meetings.
- Critics are concerned about the data center's impact on wildlife, water resources, air quality, and transparency.
- State officials, including the governor and senate president, have responded to local concerns by imposing new parameters and requiring a scaled-back project area.
- O'Leary remains committed to the project, dismissing opposition as 'bumps in the road' and suggesting misinformation, possibly from China, is fueling the backlash.
- He believes the data center will create jobs and economic growth, and that advancements in cooling technology minimize environmental impact.
- O'Leary has agreed to scale back the initial phase to 1.4 gigawatts, viewing it as a test to prove the model and new technology.
- He emphasizes the need for rapid development in the global AI race, questioning the ability to build projects in America amidst opposition.