Environmental groups appeal BLM approval of Boulder City data center on public land

LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — An administrative appeal was filed Monday challenging federal approval of the Townsite Data Center in Boulder City.

The Center for Biological Diversity and the Sierra Toiyabe Chapter said they filed the appeal. They said the Townsite Solar 2 data center, proposed by Skylar Capital Management, was approved by the Bureau of Land Management in June.

The nonprofit says it happened through an “unorthodox permitting procedure that avoided any environmental review or public participation.” Officials say it’s the first data center ever approved on public lands.

“It’s an outrage that the Trump administration is giving away our public lands to hedge funds for data centers,” said Patrick Donnelly, Great Basin director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Public lands are for wildlife and clean water, for recreation and spiritual renewal. They’re not meant for big tech companies to spew air pollution and suck down water for AI and the surveillance state.”

According to a media release, the data center would be built on desert tortoise habitat in Eldorado Valley, southeast of Las Vegas. The nonprofit says water for the project would be sourced from within the Colorado River Basin.

Boulder City says it’s also filing an appeal.

MORE ON FOX5: Las Vegas Rep. Dina Titus asks Gov. Lombardo to pause tax break for data centers on federal land near Boulder City

“Trump is sidestepping the law and shutting the public out of decisions about our public lands,” said Olivia Tanager, executive director at the Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter. “By cutting the public out of the process, they’re trying to hand over Nevada’s desert to billion-dollar tech companies without anyone getting a say. If this isn’t challenged, it won’t stop in Boulder City — it will become the blueprint for data centers across public lands in the West. We’re fighting to make sure that never happens.”

Officials say Monday’s appeal claims the BLM “unlawfully sidestepped environmental review laws.” The nonprofit claims the public never had an opportunity to review the data center plans or offer input before the BLM approved the project.

FOX5 has been following the Boulder City Council meetings involving the project. Many residents packed past council meetings, expressing opposition to the data center proposal.

City officials noted that although the proposed site is on BLM-owned land, it falls within Boulder City’s geographical boundary, meaning Boulder City police, fire, water, and public roadways would be utilized if the data center is built.