Federal Approval Granted for Data Center on Public Land in Nevada, Sparking Local Opposition
A developer secured federal approval from the BLM for an AI data center on public land near Boulder City, Nevada, bypassing local input processes. Boulder City officials, who had previously denied a similar project on city-owned land, are appealing the federal decision, arguing a lack of consultation. This project could set a precedent for data center development on public lands nationwide, raising concerns about local jurisdiction.
A proposal to construct an AI data center on 80 acres of federal public land near Boulder City, Nevada, has advanced following approval from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in June. The site was originally slated for a solar energy project by developer Townsite Solar 2, LLC. The BLM's decision to amend the right-of-way to allow a data center aligns with a 2025 executive order from President Trump aimed at accelerating environmental reviews and identifying federal land for data center development. This move notably occurred without a public comment period or town hall meetings, which has drawn significant local criticism.
Boulder City officials expressed dismay, stating they were caught off-guard by the federal approval. The city had been separately reviewing a proposal from Townsite Solar 2 to build a data center on city-owned land, a process that included public hearings. The Boulder City Planning Commission ultimately voted 6-1 against moving forward with that specific data center project. In response to the BLM's unilateral approval on adjacent federal land, Boulder City unanimously agreed in July to file an appeal with the U.S. Department of the Interior, requesting a stay on the project due to inadequate consultation and lack of public input. U.S. Rep. Dina Titus also questioned the BLM's review process in a letter.
This Nevada project is considered a potential precedent for AI data center development on public lands across the country. While Wyoming, a state with extensive federal land, is attracting major data center projects from companies like Microsoft, Meta, and Google on private land, no such proposals have yet emerged for its BLM-managed areas. Wyoming Senators Cynthia Lummis and John Barrasso support AI infrastructure expansion but emphasize the importance of state and local involvement in federal land development, a concern highlighted by the Boulder City situation. Former Assistant Secretary of the Interior Rob Wallace cautioned against developers attempting to bypass local processes, noting the need for local services like emergency response.