Proposed Action
The U.S. Marine Corps proposes to make available for lease an approximately 1,800-acre non-excess parcel of land to a private entity for the development, construction, and operation of a data center campus and energy generation infrastructure. The vacant parcel is located at the northwestern edge of the Barry M. Goldwater Range (BMGR) West, which is managed by Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma. The purpose of the Proposed Action is to maximize the use and value of the non-excess parcel (hereafter referred to as the “Project Site”) at MCAS Yuma for energy resilience project(s). The need for the Proposed Action is to increase MCAS Yuma’s energy resilience posture to enable the Marine Corps to meet its responsibilities set forth in 10 U.S.C. section 8063.
Under the Proposed Action, the Project Site would include up to 2,000,000 square feet of data center buildings as part of the data center campus, with data center capabilities for use by government and private customers. In addition to the data center campus, the Project Site would include one or more energy generation technologies. Electrical power generation could include a mix of up to 500 megawatts (MW) of natural gas-powered reciprocating engine generators (firm power generation), up to 1.2 gigawatts of natural gas-powered solid oxide fuel cells, up to 500 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV), up to 2 gigawatt hours of battery energy storage systems (BESS), and/or diesel, renewable diesel, or a biofuel blend fueled emergency backup generation. The lessee would use the energy generation infrastructure and BESS to power the co-located data center and potentially sell excess energy to an electric utility or electric energy market customers. The determination of the final combination of on-site energy resources (e.g., engine generators, fuel cells, solar PV) would be based on resource and equipment availability along with the data center customer electricity requirements. Construction would occur in phases, with initial operation expected in 2028 and completion of all phases by the end of 2035.
The lessee would be responsible for all planning, design, permits and approvals, construction, maintenance, operation, and security of the data center campus and energy generation infrastructure. [Insert figure from the Draft EA: Overall Conceptual Project Site Layout]
Project Location
The Proposed Action would occur on a vacant, approximately 1,800-acre parcel located on BMGR West, separated from the rest of the range on the east side by State Route (SR) 195 and referred to in the EA as the “Project Site” (Insert Figures 1.2-1, 1.2-2 and 1.2-3).
The setting, characteristic of the Sonoran Desert, consists of relatively flat, sandy terrain with sparse stands of desert scrub vegetation and shows evidence of prior disturbance. A dirt road and several large berms, which are remnants of an abandoned range, occupy the northern section. Immediately north of the Project Site, Arizona Public Service operates the Orchard Substation, which is connected to the regional grid by a 230-kilovolt transmission line. North, west, and southwest of the Project Site are a combination of agricultural lands and scattered low-density residences. To the east and southeast is SR 195 and the main portion of BMGR West. (Insert Photo 1)
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What is a Data Center? A data center is a facility that houses computer systems and associated components, such as servers, storage systems, networking equipment, and other hardware. It serves as a centralized location to store, process, manage, and distribute large amounts of data or to facilitate artificial intelligence or high-performance computing workloads. Data centers are designed with controlled environments that include redundant power supplies, cooling systems, and backup generators to ensure optimal and uninterrupted operation. Security features, such as access controls, surveillance systems, and fire suppression protect the valuable data and equipment housed within. |
Alternatives Considered for Analysis
No Action Alternative
Under the No Action Alternative, the Proposed Action would not occur, and existing conditions would remain unchanged. The Marine Corps would not issue a lease for the Project Site for development. The No Action Alternative does not meet the purpose and need for the Proposed Action but is required by NEPA and will serve to establish a comparative baseline for analysis of the Proposed Action.
Preferred Alternative
The Preferred Alternative is the Proposed Action described above and in Section 2.1 of the EA. This alternative would involve the Marine Corps leasing the approximately 1,800-acre parcel for the development, construction, and operation of a data center campus and energy generation infrastructure to a private developer. Conceptual site plans showing how the overall lease area could be developed are shown in the figures below. (Insert Figures 2.3-1 and 2.3-2)
Environmental Resources Analyzed
The Draft EA analyzes the potential environmental impacts to the following resource areas: Air Quality, Cultural Resources, Visual Resources, Utilities, Biological Resources, Noise, and Hazardous Materials and Waste. View the Draft EA for detailed information.