Stratos Data Center Pollution Could Cause Deaths
An NRDC-commissioned report projects that methane-fired power for the proposed Box Elder County facility could harm health across several states.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Data Centers
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A report commissioned by NRDC and prepared by EmPower Analytics Group estimates that air pollution from the proposed Stratos data center in Box Elder County, Utah, could cause premature deaths and health damages. The facility would generate roughly 9 gigawatts of on-site power by burning methane gas.
Why it matters
The report attributes most of the projected harm to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), with more than 80 percent of health-related damages expected outside Utah. Its findings raise questions for Utah residents and neighboring states about how later phases of the project will be powered.
The analysis projects 5 to 45 premature deaths annually and $75 million to $690 million per year in health-related damages at full build-out, with the reciprocating engine scenario causing roughly five to sixfold greater harm than combined-cycle turbines over the study period. Final generation technology and backup generator choices remain unresolved.
The players
NRDC
The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national environmental advocacy group that commissioned the report on the facility's air pollution.
Kevin O'Leary
Kevin O'Leary is a Canadian businessman and television personality who is backing the Stratos data center project.
Spencer Cox
Spencer Cox is the Governor of Utah who has suggested that alternative energy sources should power later phases of the development.
The details
The Box Elder County Commission approved the project in May under a Military Installation Development Authority arrangement. Latest filings describe a 7.5 gigawatt facility using RICE generators, and the report flags backup diesel generators as emitting substantially higher pollutant levels than methane units.
Timeline
May 2026: Box Elder County Commission approved the Stratos project.
Over a 30-year period: Cumulative health impacts from the facility could accumulate to substantially higher figures.
Big Picture
The Stratos plan relies on behind-the-meter methane generation to supply its power directly, a model that the EmPower analysis quantifies in terms of downwind health costs. Its scale and reliance on gas make it a clear test case for how states weigh data center growth against regional air quality.
Residents in Utah and downwind states could face higher exposure to fine particulate pollution if the facility is built as planned. Readers in affected areas can track permitting decisions and generator choices for later phases of the project.
The takeaway
The report shows that the choice of generation technology can change projected health harm by several times, making generator selection a central question for the project's future phases. Utah and neighboring states may need to weigh these tradeoffs before approving additional capacity.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Data Centers on the Utah tech beat.
Source note: This article includes information reported by RocketNews.
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