Box Elder County commissioners table MAIDA ‘Stratus’ project decision, schedule May 4 public meeting

Box Elder County commissioners on Tuesday heard a lengthy presentation from Military Installation Development Authority (MAIDA) representatives on the proposed “Stratus” project — a planned 40,000‑acre data‑center and on‑site power campus — then voted to table two items related to an interlocal agreement and resolution until a follow‑up meeting.

Hillary Venable, who introduced herself as a MAIDA project area director, told the commission the project would support AI and cloud computing and be paired with on‑site energy generation so the campus can largely power itself. “We require 100% consent from all participating landowners and the county,” Venable said, adding the site is intended to support as much as 7½ to 8 gigawatts of power at full build‑out.

The presenters stressed three recurring themes: preserving local agriculture during phased build‑out, minimizing consumptive water use through closed‑loop and air‑cooling technologies, and protecting local control through a development review committee. On water, Venable and technical lead Austin Pritchett said MAIDA is buying on‑site water rights (about 3,000 acre‑feet) and has additional contracts (roughly 10,000 acre‑feet in Snowville) if needed; presenters also said, “No water is being taken from the Great Salt Lake.”

MAIDA representatives told the commission the developer intends to fund 100% of the project infrastructure (roads, sewer, stormwater) and has committed to prepayments to help the county cover early municipal costs. Venable said the developer projects roughly $30 million in annual revenue to the county from a 3‑gigawatt first phase and about $108 million annually at full build‑out; those funds, she said, would be unrestricted after municipal services are covered.

Commissioners and members of the public pressed MAIDA staff on environmental and wildlife impacts — including concerns about Locomotive Springs and Gunnison Bay migratory bird habitat — on seismic and geotechnical risks, and on the basis for job and revenue estimates. Venable said required impact studies (traffic, environmental, state air permitting) are planned or under way and will be reviewed by the development review committee and third‑party professionals; she also committed to publishing fact sheets and holding additional town‑hall sessions.

Several commissioners said they had concerns about timing and transparency, noting the county was among the last local officials to be briefed. Commissioner Perry said the volume of material provided to the commission over a short period had been overwhelming. Venable acknowledged some notifications were missed during a competitive project timeline and apologized for that gap.

After discussion, Commissioner Perry moved to table Interlocal Agreement No. 26‑15 and Resolution 26‑11 until next Monday so the public could review the materials; Commissioner Bingham seconded. “I move that we table the two items until next Monday and reschedule another commission meeting for next Monday to address these issues,” Perry said. The motion passed. The commission set a follow‑up meeting for Monday, May 4 at 4:00 p.m., with the fairgrounds’ fine arts building identified as the likely venue.

The presentation included technical claims that commissioners asked the MAIDA team to document for public review — the presenters agreed to provide the referenced studies, geotechnical reports and an explanatory briefing on the military compute needs MAIDA says the campus would serve. No final action on the interlocal agreement or resolution was taken; the commission’s next formal consideration of those items is scheduled for the May 4 follow‑up meeting.

The meeting adjourned after the scheduling motion carried.