‘Shark Tank’ mogul Kevin O’Leary’s massive new data center enrages Utah residents: ‘Shame!’

Nypost · May 06, 2026 · 810 words · By Ariel Zilber

Environmental Impact Government Transparency Corporate vs. Community Conflict

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‘Shark Tank’ mogul Kevin O’Leary’s massive new data center enrages Utah residents: ‘Shame!’ Hundreds of furious Utah residents packed a gym and erupted in chants of “Shame!

Claims checked 13

Techniques found 4

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left12%

Center76%

Right12%

8 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

‘Shark Tank’ mogul Kevin O’Leary’s massive new data center enrages Utah residents: ‘Shame!’ Hundreds of furious Utah residents packed a gym and erupted in chants of “Shame!

Why it matters

Shame!” this week as county commissioners pushed through approval of “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary’s colossal AI data center project — a sprawling development critics warn could transform the rural region forever.

Common ground

The controversial proposal ignited a political firestorm in Box Elder County, where regulators voted to advance O’Leary’s planned “hyperscale” data center — a massive complex expected to generate and consume more than twice the electricity currently used by…

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Name Calling / Labeling, Appeal to Fear: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Environmental Impact story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that “We think over 90% of the protesters are actually not people that live in Utah or Box Elder County. They’re being bussed in,” the investor said?
How does this story connect Environmental Impact with Government Transparency over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/05/06/business/local-utah-officials-approval-of-shark-ta…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 4 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 95% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Name Calling / Labeling 85% confidence

Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.

Why it matters: Recognizing name calling / labeling helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Appeal to Fear 70% confidence

Building support by instilling anxiety or panic in the audience.

Why it matters: Recognizing appeal to fear helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Exaggeration / Hyperbole 80% confidence

Overstating facts or claims to create a stronger emotional response.

Why it matters: Recognizing exaggeration / hyperbole helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 13 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 3

info Single Source 3

verified Verified By Reference 2

help Insufficient Evidence 2

check_circle Corroborated 2

cancel Disputed 1

verified

Claim 1: ““We think over 90% of the protesters are actually not people that live in Utah or Box Elder County. They’re being bussed in,” the investor said”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The provided evidence contains general Wikipedia entries for Kevin O'Leary and other unrelated topics, but does not contain the specific quote or claim regarding protesters being bussed in.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Terrence Thomas Kevin O'Leary (born July 9, 1954), self stylized as Mr. Wonderful, is a Canadian businessman, television personality and actor. From 2004 to 2014, he appeared on various Canadian telev…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_O'Leary

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of notable non-political figures and organizations that endorsed the Kamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Kamala_Harris_2024_pre…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Ruby Pipeline is a 680-mile, 42-in. diameter natural gas pipeline running from Opal, Wyoming, to Malin, Oregon. The route crosses Northern Utah, and Northern Nevada. Ruby Pipeline, L.L.C. filed …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Pipeline

schedule

Claim 2: “At full buildout, the sprawling AI campus is projected to require up to 9 gigawatts of electricity”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 3: “One Utah State University physicist estimated the project could raise the state’s greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 50%.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found after searching for this claim.

schedule

Claim 4: “Utah’s Military Installation Development Authority, or MIDA, approved a sharply reduced energy tax rate of 0.5% for the project — far below the 6% rate it was authorized to charge.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 5: “MIDA executive director Paul Morris said last month... “That’s also why we’ve been rushing it so fast.””

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 6: “Commissioner Lee Perry told ABC4... “Today I have policemen parked in front of my house,””

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found after searching for this claim.

info

Claim 7: “regulators voted to advance O’Leary’s planned “hyperscale” data center — a massive complex expected to generate and consume more than twice the electricity currently used by the entire state of Utah.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of search results for a fictional TV show about a cat named Kevin, which are irrelevant to the claim about a data center's electricity consumption.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Kevin is an American adult animated sitcom created by Joe Wengert and Aubrey Plaza. The show depicts Kevin, the titular anthropomorphic cat, adjusting to life on his own following the separation of hi…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_(TV_Series)

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Kevin is the story of a cat who, after his owners break up, is faced with both the freedom that not being owned grants as well as insecurities towards his future.
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt32499838/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — After the unexpected break-up of his human owners, lovable and neurotic housecat Kevin (played by Jason Schwartzman) moves into a local pet rescue where a chaotic band of misfit animals help Kevin fig…
https://www.amazon.com/Kevin-Season-1/dp/B0GTC54QP2

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Claim 8: “Commissioners moved the meeting from their usual chambers to a larger fairgrounds facility in Tremonton”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources confirm the meeting was moved to the Box Elder County fairgrounds in Tremonton to accommodate the crowd.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 16th Utah Territorial Legislature comprised members of the Territorial Council serving the second year of their terms, together with members of the House of Representatives elected to one-year ter…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_Utah_Territorial_Legislat…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Box Elder Treaty is an agreement between the Northwestern Shoshone and the United States government, signed on July 30, 1863. It was adopted after a period of conflict which included the Bear Rive…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_Elder_Treaty

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Stinking Hot Springs are geothermally heated natural springs located in Box Elder County, Utah, United States. The springs are located about 6 miles (9.7 km) southwest of Bear River City, near Utah St…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stinking_Hot_Springs

+ 3 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 9: “The proposed site would span roughly 60 square miles — making it nearly three times the size of Manhattan”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The provided evidence consists of dictionary definitions for the word 'proposed' and general Wikipedia entries for Box Elder, but no specific evidence regarding the 60 square mile size of the project site.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Box Elder (Lakota: čhaŋšúška; "box elder maple") is a city in Pennington and Meade Counties, South Dakota, United States. The population was 11,746 at the 2020 census, and was estimated to be 13,887 i…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_Elder,_South_Dakota

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Box Elder County is a county at the northwestern corner of Utah, United States. At the 2020 United States census, the population was 57,666, up from the 2010 figure of 49,975. Its county seat and larg…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_Elder_County,_Utah

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Zaqistan, officially the Republic of Zaqistan, is a micronation in Box Elder County, Utah, created in 2005 by self-declared president Zaq Landsberg. The land has no residents or buildings on it, altho…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaqistan

+ 3 more evidence sources

cancel

Claim 10: “Box Elder County, population 64,100”

DISPUTED

Wikipedia explicitly states that at the 2020 United States census, the population of Box Elder County was 57,666, which contradicts the claim of 64,100.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Box Elder or Boxelder may refer to:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_Elder

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Box Elder Canyon is a canyon located within the western slopes of the Wellsville Mountains, a branch of the Wasatch Range of the Rocky Mountains in Box Elder County, Utah, United States. Box Elder Ca…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_Elder_Canyon_(Box_Elder_Co…

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info

Claim 11: “Last month, small-town Missourians voted to oust several councilmembers who backed a $6 billion data center”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of search results for the Milwaukee Bucks basketball team, which are completely irrelevant to the claim about Missouri councilmembers.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Milwaukee Bucks ... The Milwaukee Bucks are an American professional basketball team based in Milwaukee. The Bucks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Divis…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milwaukee_Bucks

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Apr 3, 2026 · CBS Sports has the latest Milwaukee Bucks news and information, including team scores, stats, highlights and more for the 2025 NBA season.
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/mil/milwaukee-bucks/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 22 hours ago · Read the latest Milwaukee Bucks team news, rumors, injury reports and Draft information from the #1 source for Wisconsin pro sports.
https://wisportsheroics.com/nba/bucks/

info

Claim 12: “would be powered largely by natural gas, according to state officials”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence consists of search results for State Farm insurance, which are irrelevant to the claim about natural gas power for a data center.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Discover State Farm's personalized insurance options with our innovative Personal Price Plan®. With over 100 years of experience, we provide personalized coverage options to help meet your needs. Get …
https://www.statefarm.com/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — State Farm - Log In ... Log In
https://auth.statefarm.com/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Enter your State Farm® login to update your account information. Update your profile, pay bills, and more. We will walk you through each process you need.
https://www.statefarm.com/customer-care/manage-your-accounts

check_circle

Claim 13: “county commissioners pushed through approval of “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary’s colossal AI data center project”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent web search results confirm that the Box Elder County Commission approved resolutions supporting a massive data center project backed by Kevin O'Leary.

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+ 3 more evidence sources

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.