Boulder City residents oppose proposed data center

Residents of Boulder City, Nevada, are vehemently opposing the proposed "Townsite Solar 2" data center project, which has become a hotly contested idea within the community. A Change.org petition against the development swiftly accumulated nearly 1,300 signatures in just one week, underscoring significant concerns over potential environmental impacts and anticipated increases in water and power bills. Local resident Brenda Lormier, among others, has voiced strong opposition, pointing out that Boulder City, a historic town founded on energy generation and located in the second fastest warming region in the U.S. desert, is an unsuitable location for such a facility. Lormier argues the data center would consume excessive power, generate unbearable heat equivalent to 200,000 space heaters, and further strain already scarce resources. The Boulder City Council first discussed the concept of bringing a data center to the area in January as a strategy to address a budget gap. During a recent meeting, the City laid out the plan for the 88-acre Townsite Solar 2 Data Center. The proposed site is situated in an open desert area west of Highway 95 and south of I-11, adjacent to a multi-species habitat protection area and in close proximity to residential homes, exacerbating resident worries about its impact on the local environment and community resources.