Rhea Data Proposed Large Center Near Boise
A 4 million-square-foot facility is under federal review for a site south of Boise near Interstate 84.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Data Centers
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Rhea Data, a subsidiary of Arevia Power, has proposed a 4 million-square-foot data center on federal land near Blacks Creek Reservoir. The Bureau of Land Management is currently reviewing the proposal to assess its environmental and resource impacts.
Why it matters
The project aims to expand technology infrastructure in the Treasure Valley, but it has drawn scrutiny over local electricity demand and its potential effects on public land. Because it is not yet in Idaho Power's load forecast, it faces significant regulatory and resource hurdles.
The proposed site covers 4 million square feet and includes plans for on-site natural gas generation. The project's integration into the regional grid remains uncertain as it is not currently included in Idaho Power's system load forecast.
The players
Rhea Data
A subsidiary of Arevia Power, this entity is the lead developer seeking to construct the proposed data center.
Bureau of Land Management
The federal agency tasked with managing public lands and evaluating the environmental and resource impacts of the proposal.
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
The state regulatory body responsible for approving or denying large-load power connections for the facility.
The details
The facility is currently under evaluation by the Bureau of Land Management's Four Rivers Field Office, which oversees resource management on public lands. Any large-load customer—a facility requiring massive, constant energy input—must pass a no-harm test administered by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission to ensure that the increased electricity demand does not negatively impact existing residential and commercial service levels.
Timeline
The Bureau of Land Management expects to issue a notice of intent regarding the application around the end of 2026.
The Tech Race
The proposal must clear the Idaho Public Utilities Commission no-harm test to ensure regional grid stability. This regulatory hurdle serves as a critical checkpoint for developers seeking to scale infrastructure in areas where existing power forecasts do not account for massive, centralized load increases.
Residents in the Treasure Valley may see long-term shifts in regional electricity resource allocation as the project moves through regulatory review. No construction timeline is currently set, as the facility must first navigate federal land oversight and utility capacity testing.
The takeaway
This proposal highlights the tension between expanding regional technology infrastructure and the physical limits of current power distribution networks. Observers should track the Bureau of Land Management's notice of intent in late 2026 as the primary indicator of the project's viability.
What happens next
The Bureau of Land Management expects to issue a notice of intent regarding the proposal around the end of 2026.
Further reading
For more on how major infrastructure projects affect utility capacity, see our coverage of Data Centers.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Arbiter.
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