US Land Records Show 35 Data Center Developments Planned on Public Land

US land records show 35 data center-related developments are being considered for public lands, according to the Center for Western Priorities, which tracks Bureau of Land Management records. The proposals include 17 data center campuses and 13 projects to build infrastructure supporting AI data centers.

The Center cited a 9,000-acre AI data center proposal from Valar Atomics, which would be powered by small modular nuclear reactors. Copia submitted 16 site and infrastructure proposals across five states. One application covers 2,520 acres near Las Vegas.

“Some of these proposals dwarf a typical data center,” the Center said. Its deputy director, Lauren Bogard, argued that data centers do not need to be located on public lands because they are not tied to natural resources found there. She called for public input and site-specific environmental reviews before projects proceed.

Developments have faced resistance from local residents over environmental impacts, noise, water use in drought-stricken areas and energy prices. A US Chamber of Commerce report published in October said a single data center development can support 5,200 jobs, contribute $680 million to a state economy and generate another $400 million in state personal income annually during a two-year construction phase. The source notes that most construction jobs disappear when building ends.