AI Data Center at Former Hoku Plant

planned

A conditional-use permit (CUP) application has been submitted to allow an artificial intelligence data center to be built on approximately 59 acres of land at 1800 River Park Way in Pocatello, Idaho. The site is the former location of a polysilicon plant built by Hoku Materials, which filed for bankruptcy in 2013. The application is by Gus Shultz of Lex Developments LLC, and the city is holding a public hearing to gather input on the proposal. The data center is expected to have a capacity of at least 100 megawatts, potentially doubling Pocatello's energy consumption. The project includes plans for closed-loop liquid cooling to minimize water use and claims that 100% of property taxes would stay local, though specific tax revenue estimates are not provided. The city is currently facilitating the CUP application process and has not made a decision on the project.