Proposed data center draws ire of some Boulder City residents

A proposed 88.5-acre data center, known as Townsite Solar 2, in Boulder City, Nevada, is facing significant public outcry from residents concerned about its environmental impact and resource consumption. The project, managed by Houston-based developer Rick Lammers, has sparked an online petition garnering over 2,100 signatures and led to public protests. Residents like Brynn deLorimier, who initiated the petition, and Tara Davis express fears about potential health issues from air pollutants linked to data centers, as well as the strain on local utilities. Boulder City Mayor Joe Hardy and City Manager Ned Thomas acknowledge the city's interest in development revenue through land leases but emphasize ensuring the city-owned utility does not raise rates for residents and that data centers secure power elsewhere. Lammers' company, backed by a Texas-based hedge fund, had initially proposed using treated wastewater for cooling but pivoted after community input and confirmation from the Southern Nevada Water Authority about an evaporative cooling ban. Separately, Boulder City residents will vote in November on a ballot question regarding whether data centers can proceed in the Eldorado Valley Transfer Area, a 107,400-acre land area. This vote, approved by the City Council, is crucial for future data center development, although the Townsite Solar 2 project is located outside this specific zone. City officials note that the current project's faster progression is partly due to an expiring lease on the land, which is already authorized for solar panels and battery storage.