Hualapai Tribe passes resolution opposing data center construction on the reservation
The Hualapai tribal council has passed a resolution opposing data center construction on its reservation. The tribe cites critical water shortages from the Colorado River as a primary concern. They also expressed worries about environmental impacts like light pollution and wastewater discharge.
The Hualapai tribal council officially passed a resolution on August 20, expressing strong opposition to the construction of data centers on land within its reservation. This decision comes amidst growing concerns over critical water shortages impacting the Colorado River, which the tribe identifies as a major factor.
According to a press release from the Hualapai Tribe, the resolution also highlights potential negative environmental and community impacts associated with hyperscale data centers. These concerns include light pollution and the discharge of wastewater, which the tribe believes could adversely affect its lands and residents.
The press release did not specify if any particular technology company had approached the tribe with proposals for data center development. This local action by the Hualapai Tribe aligns with a broader national trend of increasing scrutiny and backlash against data center construction, with some regions even seeing bipartisan support for temporary bans on such developments.
The tribe has a history of taking firm stances against industrial projects on its lands. In 2019, the Hualapai Tribe successfully opposed a lithium mining project proposed by an Australian company near sacred hot springs, eventually leading to the project's withdrawal after the tribe sued the federal government for failing to protect cultural resources.