24 DAILY NEWS – Kevin O’Leary, a prominent investor from “Shark Tank,” recently defended a controversial 40,000-acre data center project in northern Utah, amid public concern regarding environmental impacts and water usage in the drought-stricken Great Salt Lake region. O’Leary dismissed the fears of local residents, claiming that protesters were “bused in,” “misinformed,” and suggesting foreign interference from China was influencing public dissent.
Jim Walsh, policy director at Food and Water Watch, criticized the proposed Stratos project, stating, “It’s important to recognize that the impacts of this data center go beyond the water and energy concerns that impact the residents of Salt Lake.” He added that the project would utilize gas from the Ruby Pipeline, perpetuating fracking in the Western U.S., which is known for its significant water consumption.
This week, Walsh appeared on The Intercept Briefing, discussing the economic and environmental ramifications of the rapid development of data centers in water-scarce
