The Bureau of Land Management Twin Falls District announced that a 3,000‑acre parcel of public land south of Shoshone Butte is in pre‑application for a new Falcon Data Center. The proposal, submitted by Copia Digital LLC, would place the facility east of Highway 93 near Notch Butte.

Local officials express reservations

Jerome County Commissioner Ben Crouch, who previously participated in scoping meetings for the stalled Lava Ridge Wind Energy Project, said he opposes the data center. “We don’t have the water, we don’t have the electric electricity, and we know where Lava Ridge went, so we’re going to have a lot of support behind us to fight this thing,” Crouch explained.

Lincoln County Commissioner Rebecca Wood echoed Crouch’s concerns, noting the area’s appeal to developers because of the nearby Midpoint Substation, a major transmission hub linking the Mountain West to the West Coast. “It’s going to keep happening because we have the Midpoint Substation right near us,” Wood said, adding that final approval rests with the governor and U.S. senators.

NEPA review and cooperating agencies

Both counties have been invited to serve as cooperating agencies in the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) review for two other projects that are further along: the Snake River Energy Solar Farm and the Rhea Data Center in Ada County. Wood clarified that while county commissioners can advise, the ultimate authority to approve or deny projects on public lands lies higher in the federal hierarchy.

If the Falcon Data Center moves to the next stage, additional details about the applicant and the project will be released to the public. The BLM indicated that a formal notice of intent and public scoping process is at least a year away.

Community response

Idaho News 6 has reached out to Copia Digital for comment but has not yet received a response.

Original reporting: KIVI Idaho News 6 Boise metro (local) — read the source article.