Utah Legislators Scrutinize 9-Gigawatt Data Center Plan
The project targets massive, off-grid energy capacity to meet federal requirements for secure defense computing.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Data Centers
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Utah legislators are scrutinizing a massive data center proposal in Box Elder County that aims to provide up to 9 gigawatts of off-grid energy and computing capacity. The project, led by the Military Installation Development Authority and O'Leary Digital, recently moved forward following approvals from county commissioners.
Why it matters
The project addresses a federal military requirement for independent, off-grid infrastructure to bolster national defense resilience. Lawmakers are now examining the specific implications of this high-capacity facility on state resources.
The proposed data center facility targets 9 gigawatts of power-producing capacity, a figure designed to meet federal mandates for self-contained, off-grid energy. This capacity, intended to support defense computing, dwarfs conventional data center power loads.
The players
Military Installation Development Authority
A state agency responsible for overseeing and accelerating economic development related to military installations in Utah.
O'Leary Digital
A private firm partnering with state authorities to develop the proposed off-grid data center infrastructure.
Box Elder County
A county in northern Utah serving as the planned location for the large-scale energy and data facility.
The details
The Stratos Project Area serves as a framework for integrating large-scale power generation directly with high-performance computing infrastructure. By decoupling from the public grid, the facility aims to satisfy military requirements for operational independence. The partnership between the Military Installation Development Authority and O'Leary Digital focuses on establishing this dedicated, secure compute environment within Box Elder County.
Timeline
Spring 2026: The Stratos Project Area proposal was introduced.
May 2026: Box Elder County commissioners passed two resolutions to advance the project.
October 21, 2026: Utah legislators questioned development officials in an interim committee meeting.
Next 3 to 6 months: Clarifications regarding military connection are expected.
The Tech Race
This proposal aligns with a national shift toward sovereign, off-grid data infrastructure prioritized by defense planners. It follows a pattern of state-led efforts to secure high-capacity, isolated computing sites that compete with traditional commercial grid dependency.
Residents of Utah should monitor the project for potential shifts in local energy capacity and regional economic development. The legislative review process will determine whether this 9-gigawatt facility moves to the construction phase over the coming months.
The takeaway
This project signals a major move toward grid-independent defense computing at an massive scale. Observers should track the next six months for the clarified military connection details, which will confirm the specific scope of this 9-gigawatt facility.
What happens next
Clarifications regarding the facility's military connection are expected to be announced within the next three to six months.
Further reading
For broader context on current infrastructure projects, see our coverage of Data Centers.
More information
Track upcoming legislative and county meetings on the state public notice website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KSL.
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