Boulder City Residents Oppose AI Data Center Amid Water Concerns Near Lake Mead
Residents of Boulder City, Nevada, are opposing the construction of a proposed 88.5-acre AI data center near Hoover Dam and Lake Mead. The Boulder City Planning Commission has recommended denying the project, citing concerns over energy and water demand, noise, air pollution, and heat. This proposal has sparked significant local resistance, with an online petition against data centers in the area gathering approximately 2,100 signatures. The proposal is set to be reviewed by the City Council at a later date. The region is already home to several data centers, including Google's Henderson facility and Switch's The Core Campus, which are part of the infrastructure supporting major tech services. These centers are water- and power-intensive, raising concerns about their impact on the already strained water resources of Lake Mead, which is experiencing historically low levels due to prolonged drought conditions. 
