The Wonder Valley project, managed by O’Leary Digital under the name Stratos Project, originally planned to occupy 40 000 acres in Box Elder County, Utah. The proposal included a natural gas plant capable of generating 9 gigawatts of electricity, which exceeds the average consumption of the entire state.
In April 2026, the site received a Military Installation Development Authority classification. Local residents opposed the development, citing concerns over water, air quality, and noise. Opponents initiated petitions and lawsuits to force a referendum on the project.
Following an appearance on Fox Business on May 11, 2026, where Kevin O’Leary attributed local opposition to Chinese agents, a defamation lawsuit was filed against him and the network in July 2026 by Joshua Kanter and Gabrielle Finlayson.
During the primaries on June 23, 2026, key political supporters of the project, including two county commissioners and Senate President Stuart Adams, lost their elections. Subsequently, the governor of Utah issued an executive order establishing stricter regulations for future data centers.
In response to the backlash, the project footprint was reduced to approximately 20 000 acres. O’Leary Digital is also developing a parallel project under the Wonder Valley brand in Alberta, Canada.
