Boulder City residents rally against data center proposal over environmental concerns
Boulder City residents are actively opposing a proposed AI data center by Texas-based developer Townsite Solar 2 LLC, citing environmental concerns, particularly regarding water usage and strain on the energy grid. The Boulder City Planning Commission recently voted against recommending the project, though the City Council is expected to consider it in July.
Residents of Boulder City, Nevada, are vigorously opposing a proposal by Texas-based developer Townsite Solar 2 LLC to construct an AI data center on 88.5 acres of city-owned land. Hundreds have mobilized through protests, yard signs, and a Change.org petition garnering over 6,200 signatures, expressing concerns that the project threatens Boulder City's historic identity and environment.
Key opposition points center on the data center's potential impact on water resources and electricity consumption, mirroring broader concerns across Nevada and the American West. Although project manager Rick Lammers highlighted a pivot to a 100% air-cooled, closed-loop system requiring only a one-time fill of 400,000 gallons, Planning Commissioner Matt DiTeresa expressed skepticism about the water usage claims. The Southern Nevada Water Authority has already banned evaporative cooling for new data centers due to high consumption, with Google's Henderson facility cited as an example consuming 205 million gallons in 2024.
On May 20, the Boulder City Planning Commission held a three-hour public hearing where over 50 speakers, all but three in opposition, voiced concerns. The commission subsequently voted 6-1 against recommending the project for inclusion in the city's Land Management Process, a crucial initial step. However, this decision is advisory, and the Boulder City Council is expected to consider the proposal as early as July. Commissioner Steven Morris, who cast the lone 'yes' vote, argued that the commission's role was merely to assess if the applicant met a low threshold for process inclusion.
In response to the strong public sentiment, opponents are pursuing a citizens' initiative petition. If it collects 1,700 signatures by the end of June, a question requiring voter approval for any future data centers in Boulder City will appear on the November 3 ballot. This local pushback reflects a national trend, with similar actions seen in Nevada, where the Reno City Council extended a moratorium on new data center approvals until August 2027, and the Nye County Water District Governing Board urged a similar restriction for the Pahrump Valley.