Boise, Idaho is on the map for a rare kind of federal land proposal: a multi-building data center on Bureau of Land Management acreage a few miles south of the city, part of a wider Western push to site data center infrastructure on public lands.

According to public right-of-way records reviewed by The Washington Sun, the BLM is reviewing data center-related proposals covering at least 17,600 acres of public land across six states u2014 Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming. Reporting published September 18, 2026 says the Trump administration is considering proposals for at least 12 data centers and data center-related infrastructure projects on federal public lands u2014 far more than previously known. Many filings are early and not easily found on BLMu2019s website; several local officials told the Sun they were not aware of the federal deliberations.

In Idaho, Rhea Data, a subsidiary of Nevada-based Arevia Power, proposed a 4,000,000-square-foot multi-building data center on 3,226 acres of public lands a few miles south of Boise, according to a BLM spokesperson. The development would include a natural gas power generation facility and electrical facilities to connect to the Idaho Power Company. That project is also connected to a utility-scale solar energy project proposed by another Arevia Power subsidiary, which is also seeking a right-of-way on public lands, according to BLM.

Federal public lands are managed for multiple uses that have historically included mining, logging, energy production and livestock grazing. Building data centers on public lands is unprecedented, the Sun reported. A BLM spokesperson said each proposal will be evaluated under the National Environmental Policy Act so potential environmental impacts are u201cunderstood, disclosed and appropriately addressed.u201d Exact locations, scope and size become publicly available once NEPA is underway. So far, only one data center on public land has been approved, and that Nevada project is on hold following a legal challenge.

Environmental advocates raised energy-rate and pollution concerns. u201cIf there were to be more [data centers], I honestly donu2019t know what that would even look like,u201d said Lisa Young, director of the Sierra Clubu2019s Idaho chapter. u201cWould that mean even more gas plants? Would that mean turning back on coal plants longer? What does that mean for our water resources? Itu2019s honestly kind of apocalyptic to think about.u201d

u201cIf there are places where communities think it is appropriate to build data centers, focus on those,u201d said Aaron Weiss, director of the conservation group Center for Western Priorities. u201cThe Trump administration needs to stop cutting the public out of public land management. The solution is more public notice and more opportunities for stakeholders to shape projects on the front end.u201d

Arevia Power did not respond to a request for comment, the Sun reported. Exact layouts, timing, and whether the Rhea Data proposal advances remain subject to BLM review, NEPA, and utility interconnection.

Project Quick Facts:

• Focus: Rhea Data (Arevia Power) data center proposal on BLM land a few miles south of Boise, Idaho
• Idaho scale: 4,000,000 sq ft multi-building campus on 3,226 acres public land; natural gas generation + Idaho Power Company interconnection
• Western context: BLM reviewing data center-related proposals on at least 17,600 acres across Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming
• Status: Early-stage right-of-way / NEPA path; not an approved project
• Source: The Washington Sun (Sept. 18, 2026)