Declo residents press TerraVolt on proposed 1,100-acre data center
Neighbors and property owners confronted company leadership over noise, water, and power concerns during a packed town hall in Magic Valley.
By Aiko Nakamura ·
A crowded room in Declo, Idaho, filled with residents demanding answers about a massive industrial project landing on their doorstep. The meeting served as a direct response to last month's announcement that TerraVolt Holdings optioned 1,100 acres of local farmland for a data center campus. Attendees arrived with specific concerns about how the development would alter daily life in the Magic Valley, leading to a vigorous exchange between the public and company executives.
The proposed project centers on a 300-acre to 400-acre development zone within the larger 1,100-acre parcel. TerraVolt plans to build a self-sufficient campus for a single customer. The facility will generate its own electricity using natural gas generators and utilize a closed-loop water cooling system. The remaining land outside the development buffers is intended to stay in agricultural production.
Kathy and Boone Schmidt attended the open house because their property shares a fence line with the proposed site. Kathy Schmidt expressed mixed feelings about the project's environmental claims while voicing worries about proximity. She noted that a previous gas line installation had already collapsed their well. She feared the new construction would bring similar issues, including noise and bright lighting that could shine into her home at night.
Energy consumption dominated the discussion for many in the audience. One speaker compared the site's 240-megawatt power draw to 10,000 Hunter horsepower tractors running continuously for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This comparison illustrated the scale of resource usage that concerned local farmers and neighbors.
Joel Stone, CEO of TerraVolt, addressed the crowd to outline the company's strategy. He acknowledged that data centers often face public skepticism regarding secrecy and tax obligations. Stone stated that his company aims to operate differently by maintaining wide buffers and allowing the rest of the land to remain farmed. He emphasized that the project is designed to be self-contained.
Jesse Wickel, a property owner in the area, commented on the intense online debate surrounding the proposal. He noted that social media discussions had become heated and impacted his family. Wickel urged residents to learn the actual facts rather than relying on internet rumors, describing the project as a unique build distinct from other data centers.
The next step in the process is a land use permit application to the Cassia County Planning and Zoning department. The company and residents will now wait for the county's review of the proposal.
