Local Politics · Boulder City, NV
First AI Data Center on Federal Land Roils Nevada Governor's Race
The Townsite data center in Boulder City, Nevada, became the first in the country approved by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management on federal public land, after developers bypassed local opposition by seeking adjacent federal acreage. Construction is stalled following a judge's ruling that the government could not rely on an outdated environmental review originally prepared for a solar farm project. With 80% of Nevada land federally owned and more than a dozen similar projects in planning stages, data centers have become a dominant issue in the state's closely watched governor's race between Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo and Democratic nominee Aaron Ford. Residents across political lines in Boulder City have united in opposition, citing concerns over electricity costs, water supplies, and environmental impact.