Kevin O’Leary Pleads With Locals to Allow His Massive Data Center If He Shrinks It Down to the Size of One Manhattan

futurism.com Jun 6, 2026

Kevin O’Leary Pleads With Locals to Allow His Massive Data Center If He Shrinks It Down to the Size of One Manhattan

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Jun 6, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Kevin O'Leary, a "Shark Tank" investor, has proposed a massive data center facility near the Great Salt Lake in Utah, which would span over 40,000 acres, roughly twice the size of Manhattan. The project, called Stratos Hyperscale Data Center, has faced fierce opposition from locals due to concerns over water supplies, energy prices, and noise pollution. Despite initial defiance, O'Leary has agreed to downsize the project to the size of one Manhattan, a 50% reduction, after state lawmakers demanded he scale back his ambitions. He has also vowed to address environmental concerns and conduct an independent scientific analysis of the facility's thermal load.

💡 Why It Matters

· The concessions made by O'Leary mark a significant shift in the data center industry's approach to environmental concerns, as companies are increasingly under pressure to mitigate their impact on local ecosystems.
· The outcome of this project will set a precedent for future data center developments, potentially influencing the way companies balance their growth ambitions with environmental and social responsibilities.

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