Boulder City challenges federal approval of data center on public land

A data center project in Boulder City, Nevada, has sparked controversy after its developer, Townsite Solar 2, a subsidiary of a Texas-based hedge fund, secured federal approval under a Trump administration executive order without undergoing a new environmental review or public input. According to Mike Ford, a former Bureau of Land Management (BLM) official, the approval utilized an "extraordinary and liberal interpretation" of existing law by amending an earlier permit for a solar farm, applying its environmental review to the data center.

Boulder City residents and officials are incensed by the decision, citing concerns over lost city revenue, lack of public involvement, and potential environmental impacts such as air pollution from backup diesel generators and heat emissions. The project also raises questions about massive power demands, although Townsite Solar 2 plans to use an air-cooled system to comply with the Southern Nevada Water Authority's ban on evaporative cooling, requiring a one-time fill of 400,000 gallons of purified water.

Following a unanimous vote, Boulder City is filing an appeal to the Interior Department's Board of Land Appeals, seeking a stay to halt development while an administrative law judge reviews the case. City Attorney Brittany Walker stated the city was not involved in a "collaborative way" in the application process. Patrick Donnelly of the Center for Biological Diversity called the BLM's use of a "determination of National Environmental Policy Act adequacy" a concerning precedent. The Nevada Data Center Alliance, while understanding the developer's route, also advocates for public input on land use.