Sign the Petition
To local, state, and federal officials:
I oppose data centers on Idaho's public lands, including the Rhea Data project. Do not allow this or any similar projects to move forward.
BLM land where the Rhea Data center is proposed. Photo credit: Idaho Sierra Club.
More Info
On Sept 18, 2026, Idahoans learned about the first data center being proposed on Idaho’s public lands—a 4 million square foot data center with an on-site gas plant on over 3,000 acres of BLM land south of Boise. The developer is a Nevada-based company called Rhea Data.
There was immediate news coverage and public pushback, including the following concerns:
- Leasing or selling public lands to big tech companies is not in the public interest. Public lands must stay in public hands, and be open for public use and enjoyment.
- Idahoans deserve to know about projects like these sooner. All the information should be made public, and public concerns should be prioritized in decisions.
- This huge development would impact the local ecosystem, including the adjacent Blacks Creek Bird Reserve.
- Data centers require massive amounts of our local water and energy resources—both of which are already strained.
- The proposed on-site gas plant will worsen local air pollution and climate change.
- Local economic benefits and jobs from data centers are limited and uncertain, while the big tech corporations enjoy numerous tax breaks and soaring profits.
The BLM will conduct an environmental review and open a public comment period on the Rhea Data center, likely sometime this winter.
Local, state, and federal officials can all play a role in prohibiting data centers on Idaho’s public lands—including city councilors, county commissioners, state legislators, congress members, and BLM staff.
By coming together and making our voices heard, we can stop this project, and any others like it that get proposed in the future.
