Utahns Fight Back Against Secret AI Data Center Project

Overview

Residents in remote Box Elder County, Utah, are mobilizing against a massive, secretive data center project that promises to reshape the region’s infrastructure and landscape. The development, dubbed Wonder Valley, is being fast-tracked by billionaire investor Kevin O’Leary and backed by state leadership as a critical component of national AI competitiveness.

However, the project’s rapid advancement has sparked intense backlash from locals who feel excluded from the decision-making process. Critics argue that the scale of the development threatens the rural way of life, environmental stability, and local sovereignty, leading to a fierce legal and political fight.

The Scale of the Project

Announced prominently on Fox Business in May 2026, Wonder Valley is described as the largest data center project in the world. Spanning 40,000 acres north of the Great Salt Lake, the development aims to house immense computing capacity dedicated to artificial intelligence.

The project’s energy demands are staggering. A dedicated gas power plant, tapping into an interstate pipeline, is designed to generate 9 gigawatts of electricity. This single figure exceeds double the average electricity consumption of the entire state of Utah, raising significant concerns about resource allocation and environmental impact.

"It’s the largest data center in the world... sitting on 40,000 acres... more than double the average consumption of the entire state."

O’Leary framed the urgency of the project in geopolitical terms, suggesting that the speed of construction was intended to signal strength to adversaries. He claimed the rapid pace, facilitated by Utah’s governor and legislative leaders, was designed to show China and the rest of the world that the United States was not slowing down in the AI race.

The Backlash and Defamation Claims

The initial wave of promotion drew immediate and fierce opposition. O’Leary alleged that the backlash was not organic but orchestrated by foreign adversaries. In a controversial segment, he claimed to have evidence that critics were funded by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

O’Leary presented a sheet of paper listing names of individuals and organizations, including the Alliance for a Better Utah, Elevate Strategies, Gabrielle Finlayson, Taylor Knuth, and Josh Kanter. He accused them of coordinating attacks on the project to hinder American technological advancement.

Fox News later issued an apology, clarifying that there was no evidence supporting these allegations. The network acknowledged that the accusations were baseless, stating, “How the heck would anybody think you could build something out here?”

This retraction came six weeks after O’Leary’s initial claims, but not before the named parties filed a defamation lawsuit. In late September, O’Leary and Fox moved to have the suit dismissed, marking a significant escalation in the conflict between the developer and the community.

Local Perspectives and Rural Life

For residents like Lee Perry, a county commissioner, and Tim Munns, a landowner in Hansel Valley, the rumors of a mega-development were initially met with skepticism. The area is characterized by its isolation, lacking basic infrastructure such as reliable power and water, and featuring sparse gravel roads marked with “keep out” signs.

Munns, who purchased his ranch fifty years ago specifically for its peace and quiet, viewed the data center rumors with dismay. He appreciated the remote nature of his property, which had been largely ignored by other developers due to its lack of resources.

"Hardly anyone lived there but Munns... Now he lived there with his son Bud and Bud’s family, and he appreciated the peace and quiet."

The sudden interest from developers disrupted this tranquility. Munns recalled receiving calls from developers weeks before any official engagement with local government. This lack of transparency frustrated local officials, who reported being told about the project only five weeks before a crucial vote, despite the rumors circulating for months.

Political and Legal Consequences

The project’s fast track was enabled by Utah’s state leadership, who viewed it as a strategic priority. However, the exclusion of local voices created a rift between state ambitions and county realities. The unanimous approval by county commissioners, which O’Leary touted on national television, was achieved under conditions that many residents describe as rushed and opaque.

Public records requests have since revealed thousands of pages of emails and text messages showing developers racing against rivals, O’Leary competing for tenants, and state officials pushing for rapid approval. These documents highlight a coordination effort that prioritized speed over community engagement.

The legal battles, including the defamation suit and ongoing disputes over land rights, suggest that the conflict is far from over. As Wonder Valley moves from rumor to reality, the people of Box Elder County remain determined to protect their environment and their autonomy against what they see as an imposed industrial transformation.