Why It Matters
Data center developers are increasingly targeting tribal lands for large-scale infrastructure projects, prompting several Native nations to enact bans or moratoriums to protect water resources and sovereign authority.
What Happened
In Page, Arizona, city officials approved a land sale agreement last fall that established a framework for data center construction. The deal sold a 500-acre parcel near Horseshoe Bend to Huntley LLC for $7 million. Huntley LLC intends to construct a 1 gigawatt data center on the property.
The proposed site borders the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation in the northwest corner of the Navajo Reservation. Tribal leaders began taking notice about 5 miles south of Page, where the development is planned. The LeChee Chapter passed a resolution opposing the city’s decision to sell the land. Residents also launched a petition earlier this year to halt the project.
Irene Whitekiller, president of the LeChee Chapter, emphasized the environmental stakes. “Water is precious to us,” she said.
Tribal communities are facing heightened interest from developers due to the availability of pristine, undeveloped land. However, several nations have moved to restrict such development. The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma enacted a complete moratorium on data centers in March. The Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma’s Business Committee declared opposition to data centers in July. In August, the Cherokee Nation announced a ban on hyperscale data center development on tribally owned and trust lands.
Tribal nations are sovereign, self-governing entities not required to follow all state and local laws. This sovereignty allows them to set their own economic and environmental policies regarding land use.
By the Numbers
- 500-acre — Size of the parcel sold by Page, Arizona.
- $7 million — Purchase price paid by Huntley LLC for the land.
- 1 gigawatt — Intended capacity of the data center to be built by Huntley LLC.
- About 5 miles — Distance south of Page where tribal leaders began taking notice.
- Two executive orders — Issued by President Donald Trump in July regarding national monument boundaries.
Zoom Out
The trend reflects a broader national shift as data center demand surges. President Donald Trump issued two executive orders in July revising the boundaries of Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments, altering federal land management policies in the region.
While some tribes resist development, others are partnering with energy companies. Colusa Indian Energy is a tribally owned microgrid company partnering with Native nations on data center projects. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs offers financial and technical resources to tribes for such initiatives.
Activists argue that developers exploit economic vulnerabilities. Ashley Leitka, who is part of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, Oglala Lakota, and Sicangu Lakota, criticized the industry’s approach. “These companies are really preying upon the lack of economic diversity in our tribal nations,” she said.
Honor the Earth has helped communities like the Seminole Nation organize against data center development. The organization supports tribal sovereignty and environmental protection efforts across multiple reservations.
What’s Next
Some may pursue partnerships with energy firms, while others will maintain bans or moratoriums. The outcome of the Page, Arizona project will likely influence how other municipalities and tribal governments approach similar developments.