The US wants to fill thousands of acres of public land with AI data centers land records show 35 data center-related developments are planned so far

Date:
Fri, 23 Oct 2026 18:20:00 +0000

Description:
Public land across the US could be the new home for 35 AI data centers, and the public has very little say.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Records claim there are currently 35 applications to build data centers on US public land Public land permitting is far more lenient for data center developers Multiple projects are being rushed through According to US land records, there are currently 35 data center-related developments currently being considered for construction on public lands.

These are the findings published by the Center for Western Priorities who track the Bureau of Land Managements records to provide transparency into
data center developments across the US. Permitting for data centers on public land is significantly more lenient than in other jurisdictions, and allows developers to bypass environmental reviews. 17 of the applications are to build data center campuses, with a further 13 to build infrastructure to support AI data centers. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: Thousand-acre developments planned Some of these proposals dwarf a typical data center, the Center for Western Priorities said, pointing to an example
of a 9,000 acre AI data center development submitted by Valar Atomics that would be powered by small modular nuclear reactors.

One developer, Copia, is responsible for submitting 16 site and
infrastructure proposals spanning five states including a one application
that would span 2,520 acres near Las Vegas. You may like AI data center backlash has cost tech firms $130 billion in three months Bill to permanently ban AI data centers from federal lands introduced to Congress 69% of
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Data centers are not like oil, gas, or minerals, which are extracted from public lands because thats where they exist, said Lauren Bogard, deputy director of the Center for Western Priorities. Unlike mining or drilling, there are no natural resources that make it necessary to develop data centers on public lands, and there is no reason to assume data centers belong on
them.

Before even considering putting data centers on public lands, the Trump administration should be obligated to solicit public feedback on this idea. None of these projects should move forward without a permitting framework
that lets communities decide where, how, or if data centers get built, Bogard continued. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the
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That process must include robust, site-specific environmental review and public input opportunities, as well as meaningful, negotiated community benefits that ensure the public is compensated when private companies profit from public lands. The people versus AI data centers Data center developers are encountering stiff resistance from local residents in areas where AI data centers are planned, which has snowballed into an anti-data center movement that spans the US.

The concerns range across environmental damage, increased noise pollution, excessive water usage in drought-stricken areas, and increased energy prices at a time when fuel costs have been rising to new heights. What to read next 'We wish youd die of a slow death': US officials wedged between data center giants and local communities come under intense pressure over rural land markets 'Let data reign'; Trump warns that those who don't let AI data
centers proliferate will end up 'backwards and poor' Trump warns communities opposed to data centers are making a mistake but Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says data centers got the backlash they deserve

But a new report from the US Chamber of Commerce, published in October, has attempted to sway the minds of Americans opposed to data centers with statistics on the economic benefits of local data center developments.

The report states that a single data center development can support 5,200 jobs, contribute $680 million to the state economy, and generate a further $400 million in state personal income annually over a two-year construction phase.

However, once a data centers construction is complete, the majority of these jobs disappear. Construction takes a huge amount of manpower, but running an operation data center can be done by a comparatively small team.

The opposition to data center construction has led some developers to offer tens of thousands of dollars to local households in return for approval, with President Trump suggesting developers should offer local residents a dividend if they are struggling to gain local approval. Follow TechRadar on Google
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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/the-us-wants-to-fill-thousands-of-acres-of-publi c-land-with-ai-data-centers-land-records-show-35-data-center-related-developme nts-are-planned-so-far


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