Best Dam Podcast Exclusive: Inside the Data Center Debate - Part II

Best Dam Podcast Exclusive: Inside the Data Center Debate - Part II with Brynn Delormier, Kendra Dyson, and Fred Boltz - In this episode of The Best Dam Podcast, Jill sits down with Boulder City advocates and local community members Brynn Delormier, Kendra Dyson, and Fred Boltz to pull back the curtain on a massive, fast-tracked tech proposal. Together, they break down the critical issues surrounding a proposed 300-megawatt data center and explain why 93% of surveyed residents are firmly opposed to its development.

The guests explore the deep financial, infrastructural, and environmental risks associated with the project—ranging from doubled utility bills seen in other rural American towns to the toxic chemicals needed to run massive industrial cooling systems. With a strict timeline advancing toward a final city council decision, this episode provides a vital, detailed look at the public pushback, the discrepancies in the developer's application, and how local citizens can use their voices to protect Boulder City's precious natural resources.

DISCUSSION

• The Swift Public Pushback: When the data center option was presented at a city council meeting to bridge a budget shortfall, local social media pushback was immediate and vehemently opposed.
• A Warning from Rural America: Brynn shares that her mother’s utility bills doubled in rural North Carolina after a data center was implemented in her small town.
• Lessons from Local History: Kendra recalls growing up in downtown Henderson and details why trusting corporate promises can lead to long-term health and environmental damage, such as contaminated soil and air.
• The Two Ballot "Boxes": The discussion clarifies that the immediate Townsite Solar lease amendment is moving forward at warp speed independently of the future data center restriction question on the November ballot.
• Developer Red Flags: Proponents of the project are investment-type professionals with zero actual experience running an operational data center, creating a lack of public confidence.
• City Spending vs. Income: Fred emphasizes that the city has a spending problem rather than an income problem, highlighting multi-million dollar outlays on an elaborate swimming pool and a railroad museum.
• Grid and Spot Market Competition: A 300-megawatt data center would directly compete with Boulder City’s 55-megawatt peak summer load on the wholesale power spot market, potentially skyrocketing local utility rates.
• The Hoover Dam Trap: Under federal agreements, Boulder City ratepayers remain on the hook for dam operations and maintenance costs even if Colorado River water levels decline and power production stops.
• Application Inconsistencies: The developer's proposal contains severe mathematical errors and explicitly lists banned evaporative cooling methods across multiple pages of the planning commission agenda packet.
• A Toxic Chemical Brew: Running the proposed closed-loop cooling system requires hundreds of thousands of gallons of water mixed with rust inhibitors, propylene glycol, and other hazardous compounds.
• Demanding Performance Bonds: Due to the environmental risks of wastewater remediation and the potential for corporate bankruptcy, residents are calling for massive performance bonds.
• Citizens Initiative Petitions: Community members are actively gathering 1,700 local signatures by June 25th for three citizens' initiatives focused on restoring fiscal responsibility and public oversight.

LEARN MORE

• Boulder City Power Sources: Google the official "Power Source" page on bcnv.org to see the monthly breakdown of where the city buys its wholesale energy.
• Water Conservation and the Colorado River: Read up on current Colorado River shortages and drought forecasts by checking out the recent interviews published by the Glen Canyon Institute.
• Boulder City Citizens Initiative: Reach out to local organizers Brynn, Fred, or Kendra to find out where to sign the three fiscal responsibility petitions before the June 25th deadline.
• Closed-Loop Cooling System Discharges: This resource provides a brief explanation of Closed-Loop Cooling System Dischardges - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/fp0shgbge685jzg830ueh/Closed-Loop-Cooling-System-Discharges.pdf?rlkey=ugvfu1ls4bsjtdnzetviwyu3c&st=k1efv53c&dl=0
• Linktr.ee to NO Data Center in BC Resources - https://linktr.ee/nodatacentersbc

KEYWORDS

Brynn Delormier, Kendra Dyson, Fred Boltz, Data Centers, Boulder City, The Best Dam Podcast, Townsite Solar, Colorado River, Water Conservation, Wholesale Power, Spot Market, Environmental Impact Assessment, Budget Shortfall, Citizens Initiative

#TheBestDamPodcast #BoulderCity #DataCenterDebate #ColoradoRiver #WaterConservation #SmallTownAmerica #FiscalResponsibility #CommunityVoice