The US Bureau of Land Management is considering 35 data center-related applications for developments on public land in the western US, according to a tracker published by the Center for Western Priorities.

Of these 35 applications, the tracker, which is based on the Bureau of Land Management’s land records, identified 17 applications to build data center campuses and 13 applications for supporting infrastructure for AI data centers.

The remaining five applications could not be classified into either category based on the information available.

According to the Center for Western Priorities, some of the proposals “dwarf” typical data center constructions, with one cited project in eastern Utah covering more than 9,000 acres and being powered by small modular nuclear reactors.

The Center for Western Priorities’ tracker and map has further details on individual sites.

The organization says it is a non-partisan conservation group, aiming to provide a source of accurate information and promote responsible policies, practices, and accountability in the American West.

In a statement accompanying the release of the tracker, the group said the Trump administration should be forced to solicit feedback on putting data centers on public land.

“Data centers are not like oil, gas, or minerals, which are extracted from public lands because that’s 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. 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.”

Public benefits for public consent

Data center development is increasingly becoming an issue of public consent.

Earlier this week, the US Chamber of Commerce released a report detailing the economic impacts of data centers on local areas.

The organization claimed that data centers are “economic engines powering America’s future” and deliver sustained economic growth for decades.

According to the report, during a typical two-year construction phase, a single data center development can support an average of 5,200 jobs in a state, add $680 million to the state economy, and generate $400 million in state personal income annually.

Citing several major developments across four major counties, Dallas County, Texas; Prince William County, Virginia; Fulton County, Georgia; and Franklin County, Ohio, the report said the average five-year impact on tax revenue can range from $96 million to $174m.

A typical 50MW data center could provide 750 additional workers to the workforce, 740 permanent jobs per year statewide, and generate $125m in tax income annually.

Despite the purported benefits, there remain significant concerns about the impact of data centers on local communities. The issue continues to be a hot topic in the US government, especially as mid-term elections approach.

Just yesterday, US President Donald Trump suggested data center developers should pay a “dividend” to local communities in order to assuage concerns.