Boulder City residents oppose proposed data center

Boulder City residents are vehemently opposing the proposed 88-acre Townsite Solar 2 data center, which would be located in an open desert area west of Highway 95 and south of I-11, adjacent to a multi-species habitat protection area. Community members, including Brynn Delorimier and Branden Smith, expressed concerns that the facility would exacerbate heat in an already rapidly warming desert region, consume excessive power, and significantly increase local utility bills. The opposition is substantial, with nearly 1,300 signatures collected on a Change.org petition. Delorimier highlighted the data center's potential heat output, equating it to 200,000 space heaters running continuously. Timothy Phillips also noted that the community's worries about water and power consumption extend beyond Boulder City, conflicting with broader calls for conservation amid drought conditions. While Boulder City Council Member Denise Ashurst suggested that technology could find a place in the historic town, the City Council voted to advance the project after first discussing it in January as a way to address budget shortfalls. Residents were unhappy with this decision, and the proposal has now moved to the Planning Commission for further discussion. Opponents plan to protest at City Hall on April 15, the day the Planning Commission is scheduled to review the data center proposal. Additionally, Boulder City voters will encounter a ballot question regarding data centers in November, although it will not directly impact the Townsite Solar 2 project.