BLM Reviews 35 Data Center Applications on Western Public Lands
United States
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Source Analysis
What Happened
What Happened
Where Sources Agree
- arrows_inputPublic-Lands Campuses Confirmed: Reports broadly predict at least 17 proposed data center campuses on public land, according to Center for Western Priorities analysis.
- arrows_inputData Center Project Distribution: Coverage documents confirm that at least 17 data center campuses and 13 related infrastructure projects are proposed across six Western states, according to BLM records and project analysis.
Where Sources Disagree
- arrows_outputProject Naming Detail: Some outlets name specific projects and developers—citing applications like the 'Charleston Data Center and BESS,' the 'Falcon Data Center,' and ties to Prometheus and Copia Power—however, other outlets report only aggregate categories and counts, citing 35 applications and 17 proposed campuses without naming sites.
Timeline
October 21, 2026
Final summary of findings: As of Oct. 21, 2026, the BLM was considering at least 17 applications to build data center campuses on public land and at least 35 related applications covering more than 24,000 acres, highlighting industry interest in developing AI and gigasite infrastructure on federal lands amid policy shifts toward expanded industrial uses. The Center derived its findings using BLM data sets and application records.
October 20, 2026
Policy context and public concern: Reporting notes the Trump administration has strongly backed data center expansion as a national priority while public opposition is growing over electricity demand, water consumption, wildlife impacts and public access to federal lands; BLM officials were not immediately available for comment. The tension frames regulatory and community responses to the proposed projects.
October 20, 2026
Specific project proposals identified: The Center identified named and unnamed site proposals including the 3,013-acre Falcon Data Center near Shoshone, a 106-acre Copia Digital 'Charleston Data Center and BESS' application, an unnamed Boise-area project tied to Rhea Data LLC on land used by the Boise Area Radio Kontrol Society, and multiple infrastructure applications linked to a Prometheus Hyperscale facility and Copia Power projects. The filings specify parcel locations (near US 93, Midpoint Substation, US 395, Power City Wildlife Area and other local landmarks).
Summary by Ground AI
Sources
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Source Analysis
Timeline
October 21, 2026
Final summary of findings: As of Oct. 21, 2026, the BLM was considering at least 17 applications to build data center campuses on public land and at least 35 related applications covering more than 24,000 acres, highlighting industry interest in developing AI and gigasite infrastructure on federal lands amid policy shifts toward expanded industrial uses. The Center derived its findings using BLM data sets and application records.
October 20, 2026
Policy context and public concern: Reporting notes the Trump administration has strongly backed data center expansion as a national priority while public opposition is growing over electricity demand, water consumption, wildlife impacts and public access to federal lands; BLM officials were not immediately available for comment. The tension frames regulatory and community responses to the proposed projects.
October 20, 2026
Specific project proposals identified: The Center identified named and unnamed site proposals including the 3,013-acre Falcon Data Center near Shoshone, a 106-acre Copia Digital 'Charleston Data Center and BESS' application, an unnamed Boise-area project tied to Rhea Data LLC on land used by the Boise Area Radio Kontrol Society, and multiple infrastructure applications linked to a Prometheus Hyperscale facility and Copia Power projects. The filings specify parcel locations (near US 93, Midpoint Substation, US 395, Power City Wildlife Area and other local landmarks).
