Lex Developments AI data center at the former Hoku plant
Also called: Portneuf AI data center, Hoku site data center
A company wanted to turn the empty Hoku plant in Pocatello into a $2.6 billion AI data center. The city said no twice, citing missing details on water, power and public safety. The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and many residents opposed it. The developer has said it will go to court.
Where things stand: Denied. The city council upheld the denial on July 16, 2026 and again on reconsideration on Sept. 17, 2026. The developer may sue in district court.
🕒 Latest update (Sept 17, 2026): The council denied the permit a second time on reconsideration. The decision was to become official Oct. 1, starting a 28-day window to sue.
What we know
- 📍 Where1800 River Park Way, the former Hoku Materials polysilicon plant on Pocatello's west side, Pocatello, Bannock County
- 🏢 CompanyLex Developments LLC
- 🌳 Size59 acres
- ⚡ Power it needs200 megawatts (about as much as 160,000 homes)
- 🔌 Where the power comes fromIdaho Power grid (a study for 200 megawatts was proposed). Gas turbines were planned while waiting for grid power.
- 💧 WaterDeveloper said a closed-loop system would use far less water; no amount given.
- 💵 Cost$2.6 billion
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- Did Lex Developments file a lawsuit in 6th District Court by the late-October deadline? 🙋 I'll find out
- Which company would have used the data center? 🙋 I'll find out
What happened so far
- May 2026The hearing examiner denied the conditional use permit, saying the application lacked detail.
- May 14, 2026The city hearing examiner held a public hearing; most of the 90+ speakers were against.
- June 1, 2026Lex Developments appealed the denial to the city council.
- July 16, 2026Pocatello City Council voted 4-1 to uphold the denial.
- July 29, 2026Lex Developments asked the council to reconsider, claiming due process violations.
- Sept 17, 2026The council denied the permit a second time on reconsideration. The decision was to become official Oct. 1, starting a 28-day window to sue.
Local votes and rules
✋ Turned down
On a request to reconsider, the city council voted 3-2 to again deny Lex Developments' permit for an AI data center at the old Hoku plant (1800 River Park Way). The council dropped the usual 12-month wait, so the company can apply again right away. The decision became final Oct. 1, 2026. The company then had 28 days to ask a court to review it.
✋ Turned down
The city council voted 4-1 to uphold the hearing examiner's denial of the Lex Developments AI data center at the old Hoku plant. The developer had argued the project did not need a special permit. The council said city code was written before AI data centers and should be updated.
✋ Turned down
After a May 14 public hearing where most of the 90+ speakers were against it, the city's hearing examiner denied a special permit (conditional use permit) for a $2.6 billion AI data center at the old Hoku plant. She said the developer had not shown it would not harm the public, and asked for studies on power, water, wastewater and air before any new try. The developer appealed on June 1.
An aerial photo of the area.
Where this comes from
- Another large Idaho data center proposed, valued at $2 billion+ · BoiseDev · May 14, 2026
- Developers appeal Pocatello's denial of proposed AI data center · KIVI · June 2026
- Pocatello City Council upholds decision to deny AI data center · East Idaho News · July 16, 2026
- Lex Developments files reconsideration request, accuses Pocatello of due process violations · Post Register (from Idaho State Journal) · July 31, 2026
- Pocatello City Council votes to deny conditional use permit for AI data center applicant for a second time · KIFI Local News 8 · Sept 24, 2026
- Lawsuit next likely step for Hoku data center fight after City Council affirms denial a second time · Idaho State Journal · Sept 2026
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