Lawmaker blasts agency over Boulder City data center approval, questions public engagement

Nevada Rep. Dina Titus has expressed strong concerns over the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) approval of a data center project on federal land in Boulder City, bypassing standard public input procedures. The developer, Skylar Capital Management, had initially sought to lease city land, but after significant community pushback and a negative recommendation from the Boulder City Planning Commission, they withdrew their application.

Subsequently, the developer secured a right-of-way approval from the BLM to build on an adjacent federal parcel, a move that surprised and angered local residents and city officials who felt the process lacked transparency. Rep. Titus sent a letter to the BLM, demanding an explanation for the apparent circumvention of federal public engagement laws and inquiring about any planned hearings before the project proceeds. Boulder City officials, including spokeswoman Lisa LaPlante, support Titus's call for transparency and are now discussing whether to file an official appeal to the BLM, noting the city stands to lose $2.3 million in annual revenue from the lost lease and taxes.

Skylar Capital Management's project manager, Rick Lammers, stated that resident input has improved the design, which now includes a closed-loop, air-cooled system requiring no water. Lammers asserts the project will still benefit Boulder City by investing in water-positive results, lowering power bills, and enhancing grid reliability. However, local residents and environmental groups continue to raise concerns about the data center's potential impacts on water supply, extreme heat, and grid resilience, highlighting the need for transparent evaluation of the project's costs versus benefits. The grassroots opposition has even garnered attention from national NGO Third Act, which may consider legal action.