The Stratos Project Area is a major energy and technology infrastructure initiative in western Box Elder County designed to strengthen military readiness, national security, and Utah’s long-term economic competitiveness. Approved by the MIDA Board of Directors and the Box Elder County Commission, the project supports the development of a large scale data and energy campus that will help power artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and mission-critical defense operations. Located on approximately 40,000 acres in unincorporated Box Elder County, Stratos is being planned in phases with continued state-required environmental review, infrastructure coordination, and community engagement. The project is expected to bring significant private investment, generate long-term local and state revenue, support thousands of construction jobs and permanent careers, and fund needed public infrastructure without placing a burden on county taxpayers. With a focus on energy resilience, responsible land stewardship, water-wise design, local collaboration, and national defense infrastructure, Stratos represents a forward-looking investment in Utah’s role as a leader in secure, next-generation energy and technology development.

• Strengthen military readiness and national security by supporting energy resilience, compute power, and data storage for defense operations.

• Advance major energy and technology investment in Northern Utah through the development of a large-scale data and energy campus.

• Position Utah as a leader in next-generation infrastructure for artificial intelligence, cloud computing, secure data systems, and mission-critical national defense operations.

• Support reliable, independent energy generation by including dedicated on-site power generation designed to meet the campus’s needs without placing additional demand on the existing electrical grid.

• Generate long-term economic opportunity for Box Elder County through construction jobs, permanent careers, local hiring, and significant annual revenues.

• Fund public infrastructure and municipal services without creating a burden on County taxpayers.

• Support Hill Air Force Base and the Utah National Guard by generating revenues that can help fund critical infrastructure projects tied to military readiness.

The Stratos Project Area brings together MIDA, Box Elder County, state leaders, local landowners, Hill Air Force Base, the Utah National Guard, and the development team around a shared goal: strengthening Utah’s role in national security, energy resilience, and next-generation technology infrastructure. The project is designed to support military readiness by providing reliable energy, compute power, and data storage for defense operations, while also generating revenues that can support critical infrastructure projects at Hill Air Force Base and the Utah National Guard. For Box Elder County, the project creates a structured partnership with negotiated guardrails, including local involvement through the interlocal agreement, continued planning, and a future Design Review Committee with representation from county expert staff and a local landowner.

For the local community, Stratos is expected to create thousands of construction jobs and approximately 2,000 permanent opportunities across the energy, technology, and operations sectors. The development team has committed to funding all public infrastructure for the project area, along with $16.2 million in up-front funding to offset initial impacts on the Box Elder County budget. The project is also expected to generate significant local revenue for Box Elder County. From the energy and data complex, revenues would first cover all municipal services, with the County having full discretion over remaining revenues. Phase One, with a committed 3GW, is projected to generate $30 million annually, and at approximately 9GW buildout, that figure is projected to reach $108 million annually. From the mixed-use and manufacturing components, 25% of PTA would be distributed to taxing entities for municipal services, with revenues again covering municipal services first and remaining funds available at the County’s discretion, creating no burden on County taxpayers.

In addition, the project is planned to coexist with existing agricultural uses through leaseback agreements for grazing, ranching, and farming, conservation buffers, and open space preservation. The development team has also expressed a desire to prioritize local hiring and partner with local universities and school districts to build AI curriculum, creating long-term educational and workforce opportunities for Box Elder County residents.