Kevin O'Leary, known for his aggressive business tactics, has slashed his ambitious 40,000-acre Utah AI data center project in half, removing 19,430 acres after facing intense local political pressure. This significant move, announced in 2026, reduces the project to approximately 20,000 acres, according to the Washington Examiner. It's a clear shift from O'Leary's initial grand vision.
While O'Leary has cut his Utah data center project by half, this concession still falls short of the 75% reduction Utah's Senate President initially demanded. This ongoing tension reveals the tough road high-profile investors face when local communities stand firm.
So, while O'Leary has made a big compromise, more negotiations or adjustments to the project's scope and environmental impact seem likely. Local officials are still pushing hard for their original demands.
What We Know
- Kevin O'Leary reduced his proposed 40,000-acre data center complex in northern Utah by half, to approximately 20,000 acres, according to the Washington Examiner.
- The project reduction involved removing 19,430 acres from the original 40,000-acre plan, according to The Verge.
- Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams demanded a 75% reduction in the project's footprint, aiming for about 10,000 acres, according to Fox Business.
- O'Leary also committed to cutting an additional 620 acres near the highway and preserving the remaining acreage as open space, according to The Verge.
- Adams' demands also included environmental protections and greater transparency, according to Utah Public Radio.
Political Pressure Halves Project, But Falls Short of Demands
Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams actively pushed for a much deeper cut, demanding a 75% reduction in O'Leary's data center project. This would have shrunk the footprint from 40,000 acres to approximately 10,000 acres, according to Fox Business. Adams' office stood firm on this demand.
