Box Elder County Approves 9 GW Wonder Valley Data Center

Box Elder County commissioners unanimously approved plans on May 4, 2026, for the 9 gigawatt (GW) Stratos Project, a 40,000-acre artificial intelligence data center campus in Hansel Valley, Utah, representing the largest single AI data center campus to receive local approval in the United States to date. The project, marketed as “Wonder Valley,” is a joint venture between West GenCo and O’Leary Digital Limited, the technology vehicle of investor Kevin O’Leary, alongside the Utah Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA).

The Project

The Stratos Project will occupy 40,000 acres in Hansel Valley, Utah. The proposed 9 GW power requirement is more than double the current peak electricity demand of the entire state of Utah. West GenCo and O’Leary Digital Limited are developing the campus in partnership with the Utah Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA). Initial site preparation is slated for late 2026. The project intends to operate using a “Shadow Grid” model, relying on on-site, off-grid power generation. This generation will be fueled by natural gas delivered via the existing Ruby Pipeline.

Why It Matters

This 9 GW power demand marks one of the largest single AI campus power requirements announced in the United States. The project aims to create 2,000 jobs in rural Box Elder County, a region with a population of under 60,000 residents. Box Elder County commissioners stated in their approval order that the project will fund its own substation and water infrastructure. Utah Governor Spencer Cox has framed the project as vital for U.S. competitiveness in artificial intelligence infrastructure against China. The Utah House Speaker also described the project as a state-priority economic development effort in a May 12 Deseret News interview.

Critical Perspective

Despite local approval, opposition has been significant. Nearly 4,000 Utahns filed protest responses with the Utah Division of Water Rights concerning the project’s application for water rights from a tributary of the Great Salt Lake, an application that was subsequently withdrawn on May 7, 2026. CNN Business reported on May 9 that the county commissioner vote proceeded despite objections from environmental groups, ranchers, and Great Salt Lake advocates concerned about the lake’s declining water levels. Utah State University associate professor of geology Patrick Belmont told The Register on May 13 that the 9 GW load is equivalent to the daily heat output of 23 atomic bombs. Tucker Carlson and Kevin O’Leary publicly debated the project’s merits on May 15, with Carlson questioning the extent of local resident input. Project sponsors have not disclosed which hyperscaler tenants will occupy the facility, the vendor for the natural gas turbines, the cooling architecture, or any offtake contract terms.

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