Feds pause Boulder City data center project
The U.S. Department of the Interior Board of Land Appeals has halted a proposed data center near Boulder City, Nevada, after residents and environmental groups challenged the Bureau of Land Management's approval. The stay pauses the project while an expedited appeals process plays out, with opponents believing the BLM violated the law by approving the data center without a new environmental analysis.
The U.S. Department of the Interior Board of Land Appeals has issued a stay on a proposed data center project near Boulder City, Nevada, following challenges from local residents and environmental organizations. The project, put forth by Texas-based Townsite Solar 2, was initially approved by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on an 80-acre plot in Eldorado Valley, previously designated for a solar plant. Critics, including the Boulder City Council and the Center for Biological Diversity, argued that the BLM violated the law by approving the data center without conducting a new environmental analysis, as the land use had changed significantly from the original solar plant proposal.
The board's decision, issued on a Tuesday, temporarily halts the project as an expedited appeals process commences. Cherubael Laub, a local opponent, expressed joy over the ruling, emphasizing the community's impact on protecting wildlife and local health. Patrick Donnelly, Great Basin Director at the Center for Biological Diversity, stated that the ruling indicates the appeal has merit and that the BLM likely acted unlawfully. Both sides have until September 21 to submit a briefing schedule, and while the project is paused, its ultimate fate remains uncertain. Townsite Solar 2 has indicated its commitment to fully participating in the appeals process and meeting all environmental requirements.