Report: Emissions from proposed Utah data center could impact multiple states

A report by EmPower Analytics Group indicates that the proposed Stratos data center in Utah could lead to an estimated 45 premature deaths annually if fully powered by natural gas. The emissions, consisting primarily of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), are projected to drift beyond Utah, impacting air quality as far away as Illinois, according to the research commissioned by the Natural Resources Defense Council.

The facility is expected to consume nine gigawatts of power at full capacity—more than twice the annual electricity usage of Utah. Researchers estimate that the associated health impacts, ranging from respiratory illnesses to nonfatal heart attacks, could result in annual economic damages of up to $690 million. Michael Cork, CEO of EmPower, characterized the project as "power plants with servers attached."

Although Utah Governor Spencer Cox has publicly suggested that subsequent phases of the project should move toward nuclear and geothermal power, the initial phase relies on gas. The analysis notes that even at a lower capacity of three gigawatts, the project could cause 15 premature deaths and result in up to $230 million in annual economic costs.

O’Leary Digital, the developer behind the project, has not responded to requests for comment regarding the findings. The study highlights that while different gas-generating technologies vary in their emission output, all scenarios evaluated were found to contribute to negative health outcomes.