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Residents urge council to block data centers; organizers seek ballot measure
Summary
Multiple residents told the council they oppose proposed data-center projects and are collecting signatures for a citizensinitiative to require voter approval before large data centers are built; speakers cited water and power concerns, long-term land-use impacts and limited local job benefits.
Dozens of residents used the public-comment period to press Boulder City council to oppose proposed data-center projects and to support a citizensinitiative that would put a question on the ballot requiring voter approval before large data centers can be built.
A campaign volunteer told the council volunteers have collected phone numbers and were texting residents to gather signatures; the organizer said they needed about 1,700 valid signatures by June 25 to qualify a ballot question. Several speakers said data centers would strain water and power supplies, change land-use character in the El Dorado Valley and deliver few permanent local jobs; Adam Schultz cited a 2025 University of Michigan report saying data centers do not deliver high-paying local tech jobs.
Carol Schulty and other commenters urged the council to protect Boulder Citys tourism- and family-focused identity and suggested alternative economic visions (tourism, recreation, heritage projects) to generate revenue without introducing large, water- and power-intensive industrial facilities. Brandon Smith and other speakers said surrounding communities also object and asked the council to heed local opposition.
Speakers emphasized that the Planning Commission had voted against related proposals and asked the council either to reject the projects or support putting a public vote on the issue. Organizers said their text messages to residents and face-to-face outreach were intended to collect the signatures required for a ballot initiative.
