Boulder City Planning Commission Recommends Denial of 88.5-Acre Data Center Campus

The Boulder City Planning Commission recommended denial of Skylar Capital Management’s proposed Townsite Solar 2 data center campus.

The project was proposed on an 88.5-acre site. The Planning Commission was initially slated to consider the proposal during its April 15 meeting but ultimately decided to postpone the hearing to May 20 at the request of the developer’s affiliate, Townsite Solar 2, LLC.

While the project is still in its early phases, the initial proposal is comprised of a 40-foot-tall data center with varying parapets and mechanical screening. The facades will utilize non-reflective earth-tone materials and finishes that align with the desert landscape.

The proposal described the data center as an “institutional-grade, hyperscale/AI-ready data center campus.” Developers intend to use effluent instead of potable water in a closed system.

Project manager Rick Lammers said the data center would need an initial 400,000 gallons of water to fill the system and then it would require an additional 2,000 gallons of water daily to maintain kitchens and bathrooms.

Commissioner Matt Di Teresa was skeptical that the closed system would not require additional water down the line.

When effluent is not being used to cool the system, power will take its place. When not using effluent water, the system will require 20-25% more power. (NVBEX: March 25; April 15)

Nearly all commissioners recommended denying the data center. Commissioner Steven Morris was the only member to recommend its approval, saying the proposal met the “low threshold” to be considered further.

Commission Chair Lorene Krumm said there need to be official rules for data center developments prior to moving projects through.

The controversial development sparked a lengthy public comment period, a protest prior to the meeting and an online petition with more than 5,900 signatures requesting denial of the proposal.

Townsite Solar 2 will still appear before City Council for final consideration.