Full Breakdown
Kevin O'Leary Accuses Utah Data-Center Critics of Acting as Chinese Proxies
5/17/2026, 1:02:07 PM
Investor Kevin O'Leary’s Allegations
During a Fox Business interview, billionaire investor Kevin O’Leary named Elevate Strategies, Alliance for a Better Utah, and individual activists Gabi Finlayson and Jackie Morgan as “proxies for the Chinese government.” He asserted that the groups receive funding that ultimately traces to China and promised to release Internal Revenue Service Form 990 filings as proof.
Background: The Stratos Data-Center Project
The proposal, known as the Stratos project, envisions a roughly 40,000-acre data-center and power campus in western Box Elder County, Utah. Supporters argue the development would generate substantial tax revenue, bolster national-security computing capacity, and position Utah at the forefront of artificial-intelligence infrastructure. Critics highlight potential water-use strain, increased power demand, air-quality impacts, and threats to the Great Salt Lake.
Key Figures and Organizations
- Kevin O’Leary – Investor, head of O’Leary Digital, public promoter of the Stratos project.
- Elevate Strategies – Political-consulting firm; senior partner Gabi Finlayson leads its Utah operations.
- Jackie Morgan – Co-founder of the Elevate_Utah social-media channel that posted opposition videos.
- Alliance for a Better Utah – Advocacy group cited by O’Leary; spokesperson Elizabeth Hutchings defended its funding sources.
Project Scale and Statistics
- Land area: ~40,000 acres.
- Planned power generation: up to nine gigawatts, exceeding Utah’s current statewide electricity consumption.
- Described as the largest proposed data center in the United States.
Official Statements & Responses
O’Leary claimed the opposition’s finances “move through the U.S.–based advocacy network Arabella Advisors before ultimately tracing back to China,” and said he would publish the supporting Form 990 documents. Elevate Strategies responded with a video statement asserting, “We are not Chinese foreign operatives. Never have been,” and emphasized that its opposition is rooted in concerns about water supply, power demand, and the Great Salt Lake. Hutchings added that Alliance for a Better Utah is funded by grassroots donors and Utah residents, rejecting any foreign-government link.
Criticism & Opposition Perspective
Finlayson and Morgan described O’Leary’s accusations as “intimidating” and likened the public naming to a form of doxxing. They argued that the only foreign operative in the debate is O’Leary himself, a Canadian investor, and that the groups’ advocacy reflects local environmental and infrastructure interests rather than foreign influence.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
As of the latest reporting, FOX 13 has not received the Form 990 documents O’Leary said he would release, and the outlet has not independently verified the alleged money trail. No public evidence has been presented linking the Utah groups to the Chinese government.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is irrefutable. This is Form 990 from the IRS, and I’m going to publish it today,” — Kevin O’Leary, Fox News interview
- “These are proxies for the Chinese government.” — Kevin O’Leary, Fox Business interview
- “Why wouldn’t you want national defense in Utah, why wouldn’t you want compute power?” — Kevin O’Leary, Fox Business interview
- “We are not Chinese foreign operatives. Never have been,” — Gabi Finlayson, Elevate Strategies
- “It was intimidating, you know—being doxed, in a way, on national television, being accused of being a foreign adversary agent,” — Gabi Finlayson, KSL interview
What’s Next
O’Leary has pledged to release the cited documents; FOX 13 has requested copies and will review any material made public. The Stratos project remains under intense public scrutiny, with continued advocacy from both supporters and opponents ahead of upcoming local hearings and potential regulatory decisions.
