Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) accused the Trump administration of approving the “first private data center on public land using a permit meant for a solar project.”
“Instead of building clean energy to lower utility bills, the President wants more data centers to make Big Tech rich using OUR land and resources. No way,” Markey said on Facebook.
“In June 2026, The Bureau of Land Management approved the Townsite Data Center project to construct, operate, and maintain a data center on 88.5 acres of public land in the vicinity of the existing Townsite Solar 1 project,” the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) stated.
“The approval supports federal efforts to accelerate permitting for data center infrastructure and is consistent with Executive Order 14318 Accelerating Federal Permitting of Data Center Infrastructure,” the release continued.
“This project reflects the growing role of public lands in supporting the infrastructure needed to power innovation, advanced technology, and the nation’s future economic growth, while advancing the Bureau’s commitment to responsible stewardship and sustainable use of public lands for current and future generations,” it added.
The Center for Biological Diversity and the Sierra Toiyabe Chapter said they filed an “administrative appeal challenging federal approval of the Townsite Data Center in Boulder City, Nevada.”
More from the Center for Biological Diversity:
“The Boulder City Council unanimously voted to appeal the recent Bureau of Land Management (BLM) approval for a data center on an 80-acre federally-owned parcel within the City of Boulder City’s jurisdiction. The federal land would receive local utilities and emergency response services, and the City contends that the BLM did not consult with the City or provide adequate opportunity for public input on the approved data center, as required by federal law. Townsite Solar 2, LLC (TS2). previously withdrew its application to lease a nearby City-owned site,” the City of Boulder City stated.
“During the meeting, in response to questions from City Council, City Attorney Brittany Walker explained that had the BLM engaged in processes required under federal law, the City of Boulder City would have had a more meaningful opportunity for input. Council member Steve Walton expressed shock at the BLM’s conclusion that a data center is similar to a solar power generation and battery energy storage project. Council member Denise Ashurst noted that the BLM’s decision was ‘out of the norm’ and requested that the City Attorney keep the City Council and public updated on the decision. Finally, Council member Sherri Jorgensen stated that she sees this as a bipartisan issue and also expressed disbelief in the decision,” it continued.
“I’ve heard myriad warnings about the negative impacts hyperscale AI data centers have had on small towns across the United States, but have yet to find a single town whose residents have thanked their government for bestowing one of these industrial behemoths upon them,” said Brynn DeLorimier, a local business owner in Boulder City.
“I believe placing such a facility in a water-starved desert where we see increasingly hot summers year over year is about the most shortsighted decision any level of government could possibly make. We don’t want to see our utility rates skyrocket while our property values plummet, we don’t want to see our tourism industry destroyed, we don’t want to see our water supply contaminated, and we don’t want the natural beauty of our desert to turn into an industrial wasteland,” DeLorimier continued.
FOX5 Vegas shared further:
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[H/T 100PercentFedUp]
