Boulder City voters to decide on allowing data centers on city-owned land
Boulder City voters will decide whether the City Council may consider leasing eligible city-owned land in the Eldorado Valley Transfer Area for data centers. The measure would not approve a specific project, and residents remain divided after successfully challenging a proposed data center on nearby federal land.
Boulder City voters are scheduled to decide in November whether to authorize consideration of data center leases on portions of the city-owned Eldorado Valley Transfer Area. The area covers more than 100,000 acres, although over 86,000 acres are protected by a conservation easement and excluded from potential development.
Question 1 would give the Boulder City Council authority to evaluate future data center leases but would not require approval or construction of a project, nor would it raise taxes or fees. City officials say such leases could generate revenue for public safety and capital improvements, building on existing income from solar, battery storage and natural gas leases. The measure comes after residents celebrated a judge's decision halting a proposed data center on federal land, reflecting continued community opposition to data center development in the area.