Lake Mead nears all-time low as Boulder City fights data center amid power concerns
Boulder City is actively opposing a proposed data center project due to concerns over water and electricity supply. The city council unanimously voted to appeal the Bureau of Land Management's approval of the data center, citing potential strain on local utilities and emergency services. This opposition comes as Lake Mead is projected to reach historic low levels, further impacting power generation from Hoover Dam.
Boulder City officials and residents are fighting a proposed data center development, expressing grave concerns over its potential impact on the city's already strained water and power resources. The opposition intensified as a new Bureau of Reclamation report projected that Lake Mead could drop to an all-time low this summer, further reducing Hoover Dam's electricity output by up to 40% by next summer. This reduction is expected to lead to higher electric bills for families in the Las Vegas Valley.
At a marathon meeting, the Boulder City Council unanimously voted to appeal the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) recent approval of the data center project. The city argues that it was not consulted in the decision-making process for the project, which is planned for BLM-owned land within the city's jurisdiction. City Councilman Steve Walton highlighted the community's worries about the long-term cost of electricity and the burden on infrastructure, stating, "We are in a water catastrophe right now." The council fears the city could be financially responsible for supporting the data center's infrastructure and could even become its power provider, without proper planning or inclusion in the approval process.