Kevin O’Leary wants to build one of the largest data centers in American history across a sprawling stretch of Utah desert. Locals want him to stop. And O’Leary’s explanation for the pushback is, well, creative: he says China is behind it.
The Stratos AI data center project, announced in early 2026, was originally planned to cover 40,000 acres in Box Elder County, Utah, with power demands reaching up to 9 GW. The project has drawn fierce resistance from residents concerned about water usage and air quality, particularly given the region’s already deteriorating Great Salt Lake ecosystem.
Rather than accept the opposition at face value, O’Leary has pointed the finger at alleged Chinese entities he claims are orchestrating dissent through American nonprofit organizations. In May 2026, he went so far as to name specific nonprofits and individuals he believes are connected to supposed Chinese influence campaigns, including the Alliance for a Better Utah.
Mainstream reporting has turned up limited evidence to support those claims.
The numbers tell a simpler story
