AI data centers are a hot topic right now, especially for people who will be affected by their operation. For the most part, the effects are negative to the nearby populace, which is why a Utah county commissioner and other local officials have allegedly received death threats after approving what could become the largest AI data center project in the US. Apparently, the threats have become so bad that he had to release a statement.
In the statement, Commissioner Lee Perry of Box Elder County can be heard defending his vote, “Now I’m being personally attacked. I’m being accused of taking bribes and all kinds of things that are just not true,” alleges Perry. “Now I’m being told that my family is being targeted. I literally have police officers in front of my house.”
The controversy exploded this week after the Box Elder County Commission, Perry included, voted unanimously to approve agreements tied to the proposed Stratos Project, a massive 40,000-acre data center development planned for Hansel Valley in western Utah. The project has ignited outrage from residents who fear the development will drain water supplies and devastate the environment.
During heated public meetings, hundreds of residents packed the Box Elder County Fairgrounds, carrying “No Data Center” signs while chanting and booing commissioners. Some protesters shouted, “Shame,” after officials announced there would be no public comment before the vote.
According to local reports, the backlash escalated after the decision, with Commissioner Lee Perry confirming several local officials were placed under police protection following threats and harassment. “We’re not kings, we’re not rulers, dictators,” Perry claimed earlier. “We’re just trying to serve the people and do our job.”
People online are pushing back as well
Meanwhile, critics argue the project could severely strain Utah’s already fragile water resources. Environmental advocates point to estimates showing hyperscale data centers can consume millions of gallons of freshwater daily for cooling systems. Some residents also warned about possible effects on wildlife near the Great Salt Lake region.
Hence, negative sentiments towards the commissioners became common in online comment sections, with one X user even arguing, “Maybe you should have listen[ed] to the citizens.. the hundreds that were there telling you No .,” in regards to the threats. Others were quick to point out that Perry supposedly “Sure sang a different tune when people were protesting.“
Granted, the officials emphasized that construction is not yet guaranteed. The project must still undergo environmental reviews and secure permits related to air quality, drinking water, and land use before development can begin. Public hearings and additional comment periods are expected in the coming months.
