Environmental groups challenge data center on federal land in Boulder City
Two environmental advocacy groups, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter, are challenging an agreement to build a data center on federal land in Boulder City, Nevada. They have filed an administrative appeal, alleging that the Bureau of Land Management bypassed proper environmental review laws. Boulder City residents and the city itself are also joining the appeal.
The Center for Biological Diversity and the Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter have filed an administrative appeal against an agreement that would allow a data center to be built on federal land in Boulder City, Nevada. The groups allege that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) unlawfully circumvented environmental review laws by using a prior authorization for a solar project at the site to approve the data center development.
Skylar Capital Management, the company behind the project, initially withdrew its application for a data center on Boulder City's land. However, it subsequently secured an amended right-of-way grant from the BLM to build on federal land within the city limits. Patrick Donnelly, Great Basin director for the Center for Biological Diversity, criticized the move, stating that public lands should not be used for big tech companies that consume significant resources.
The administrative appeal is supported by several Boulder City residents, and the city itself has also agreed to file its own appeal following a public meeting where residents expressed strong opposition to the project.