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 167-megawatt data center, proposed by Skylar Capital Management, was approved by the Bureau of Land Management in June through an unorthodox permitting procedure that avoided any environmental review or public participation. It is 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.”

The data center would be built on desert tortoise habitat in Eldorado Valley, southeast of Las Vegas. Water for the project would be sourced from within the parched Colorado River Basin. It is within the city limits of the small town of Boulder City, which is also filing an appeal.

Today’s appeal says the BLM unlawfully sidestepped environmental review laws by using a prior authorization for a solar project at the same site to fulfill requirements for authorizing the data center. This meant the public never had an opportunity to review the data center plans or offer input before the BLM approved the project.

“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.”

Joining the appeal are several residents of Boulder City who would be harmed by the data center if it were constructed.

“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:

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.

 

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