Boulder City Appeals BLM Decision to Allow Data Center Facility on Public Land in Eldorado Valley

BOULDER CITY, NV — Officials in Boulder City have formally filed an appeal challenging a federal decision by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that approves the construction of a large-scale data center on 81 acres of public land in the Eldorado Valley desert.

Municipal leaders argue the approval turns Southern Nevada into an untested testing ground for federal land development.

From Solar Farm to Industrial Data Hub

The controversy involves the Townsite Data Center, spearheaded by Houston-based Townsite Solar 2, LLC. In 2023, federal authorities initially granted environmental clearance for a solar photovoltaic and battery storage facility on an 81-acre plot situated adjacent to U.S. Highway 95 and Interstate 11.

However, the developer subsequently amended its application to incorporate a high-capacity data center complex.

+--------------------------------------------------------+
|          TOWNSITE DATA CENTER DISPUTE DOSSIER          |
+--------------------------------------------------------+
|  - Parcel Size: 81 Acres (BLM Federal Land)            |
|  - Location: Eldorado Valley (Adjacent to Boulder City)|
|  - Developer: Townsite Solar 2, LLC                    |
|  - Original Approval: Solar & Battery Storage (2023)   |
|  - Amended Scope: Industrial Data Center Facility      |
|  - Current Status: Formal Municipal Appeal Filed       |
+--------------------------------------------------------+

Setting Precedent on Federal Lands

Boulder City officials contend that converting public lands originally intended for renewable energy generation into power-heavy data facilities threatens local resources and municipal planning autonomy.

City leaders noted that the project represents a national test case as the federal government balances clean energy production with the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure across western public lands.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Land Management Decision Archives, Boulder City Municipal Counsel Filings, Nevada Public Radio Reports.