Boulder City data center halted temporarily as stay issued; new review possible
A judge has temporarily halted a proposed data center near Boulder City, Nevada, ruling that the Bureau of Land Management violated the National Environmental Policy Act. The decision follows community opposition and the project developer, Townsite Solar, moving the facility to federal land.
Rick Lammers, manager for Townsite Solar, previously met with Boulder City residents regarding a proposed data center, facing significant community pushback over environmental impact concerns. Despite the opposition, Townsite Solar initially backed out of their city-proposed plan, then sought to sidestep local objections by proposing the project on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land outside Boulder City, off US Highway 95.
Neighbors and the Boulder City Council expressed outrage and pledged to appeal this decision to a federal court. Subsequently, an administrative judge, David Gunter, issued a ruling that temporarily halted the project. Judge Gunter stated that the Bureau of Land Management "violated the National Environmental Policy Act and acted arbitrarily," necessitating a new environmental review. The halt is based on the project's merits, indicating a delay rather than a permanent cancellation.