Company Withdraws Its Bid for Data Center Water, but Not because It’s Backing Down

Stratos developers withdraw water filing amid protests, plan to refile

Developers behind the proposed Stratos Project data center in Box Elder County have withdrawn their water rights application with the Utah Division of Water Rights amid thousands of public protests.

Company withdraws its bid for data center water, but not because it’s backing down

Community members protest ahead of a special Box Elder County Commission meeting to discuss the "Stratos" project, a massive data center proposed for an unincorporated area in Box Elder County on May 4, 2026 (Alixel Cabrera/Utah News Dispatch)Thousands of protests were filed in a water permit application meant to feed the operations of a massive data center proposed in Box Elder County. But, they won’t be considered by the Utah state engineer, a…

Company withdraws bid for data center water, but not backing down

Thousands of protests were filed in a water permit application meant to feed the operations of a massive data center proposed in Box Elder County. But, they won’t be considered by the Utah state engineer, as the company withdrew its…

Water rights request for massive Box Elder data center withdrawn after thousands of Utahns file protests

Note to readers • This story is made possible through a partnership between The Salt Lake Tribune and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization. The north shore of the Great Salt Lake and Hansel Valley on Friday, May 1, 2026. Photo by Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune An application to transfer 1,900 acre-feet of water from ranching to the Stratos Project hyperscale data center in Box Elder County was withdrawn Thursday morning. The m…

Company withdraws its bid for data center water, but not because it's backing down

Community members protest ahead of a special Box Elder County Commission meeting to discuss the "Stratos" project, a massive data center proposed for an unincorporated area in Box Elder County on May 4, 2026 (Alixel Cabrera/Utah News Dispatch)Thousands of protests were filed in a water permit application meant to feed the operations of a massive data center proposed in Box Elder County. But, they won’t be considered by the Utah state engineer, a…