The Center for Western Priorities has identified at least 17 data center campus and related infrastructure projects proposed on US public lands, with 35 active or pending applications before the Bureau of Land Management covering more than 24,000 acres across six Western states. These projects are concentrated in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming. The Trump administration signed an executive order in July 2025 to speed up permitting for data centers, particularly those drawing more than 100 MW. Notable projects include Valar Atomics’ proposed nuclear-powered facility spanning over 9,000 acres in Utah. Local and environmental opposition is organizing around concerns over water and energy consumption as well as public access to these lands.
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