The Trump administration has approved the first AI data center to be built on federal public land

July 20, 2026

In June 2026, The Bureau of Land Management approved the Townsite Data Center project to construct, operate, and maintain a data center on 88.5 acres of public land in the vicinity of the existing Townsite Solar 1 project. The approval supports federal efforts to accelerate permitting for data center infrastructure and is consistent with Executive Order 14318 Accelerating Federal Permitting of Data Center Infrastructure.

This project reflects the growing role of public lands in supporting the infrastructure needed to power innovation, advanced technology, and the nation’s future economic growth, while advancing the Bureau’s commitment to responsible stewardship and sustainable use of public lands for current and future generations. Bureau of Land Management