Daily Digest — June 29, 2026
Henderson, Nevada Considers 180-Day Data Center Moratorium
Henderson Mayor Michelle Romero has proposed a 180-day pause on new data center permit approvals to allow city staff to study potential code changes addressing air quality, heat generation, siting, and decommissioning, according to the Arizona Daily Sun. The move follows similar actions across the state, with Nye County recently approving a temporary moratorium and Boulder City residents set to vote on a proposed data center in November. Reno, Churchill County, and Humboldt County have also taken or scheduled related actions.
Energy capacity is a central constraint. NV Energy has received requests for 39 proposed data center projects that would collectively draw 16,530 MW — roughly double the state's current peak load capacity of 8,241 MW. Clark County previously banned evaporative cooling for data centers after 2023 to protect Colorado River and Lake Mead water resources.
The Nevada Data Center Alliance, represented by Tray Abney, contends that politicians are overreacting and that data centers provide stable tax revenue and economic diversification. Environmental groups, including the Sierra Club's Toiyabe chapter, are advocating for moratoriums and stricter regulations, including a statewide ban on evaporative cooling. Governor Joe Lombardo has expressed support for data center projects with responsible water and energy plans. Further legislative action is expected in the 2027 session.
Developer Appeals Dickson City, Pennsylvania Zoning Denial in Court
Dickson City Development LLC, a firm associated with Kriger Construction, has filed a land-use appeal in Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas seeking to overturn the borough's data center zoning ordinance, as reported by the Scranton Times-Tribune. The appeal challenges both the ordinance adopted on February 12 and the Dickson City Zoning Hearing Board's May 20 decision upholding it.
The developer proposes to build:
- Four data centers and three natural gas power plants
- Combined capacity of 400 MW
- Located above Business Route 6
The appeal argues the ordinance is exclusionary, procedurally noncompliant, vague, and constitutes an unlawful delegation of legislative authority. The developer contends that requirements including minimum site sizes, setbacks, and mandatory fire protection coordination create "discretionary choke points" that effectively prevent development. The filing also cites alleged violations of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, including issues with overcrowded public meetings during the ordinance's adoption — a situation mirrored in nearby Archbald, which faces a separate lawsuit over its own data center zoning process.
Vantage Data Centers Holds Community Meeting in Cheyenne, Wyoming
Vantage Data Centers hosted a community meeting in Cheyenne to address resident concerns about its planned development in Laramie County, according to Cap City News. Residents raised issues about the project's proximity to rural subdivisions, potential water usage and contamination, noise, and light pollution. City Councilor Lawrence Wolfe highlighted concerns about the cumulative impact of multiple data centers — including developments by Microsoft and Tallgrass — converging in a small area with substantial utility demands.
Vantage representatives outlined plans for a closed-loop cooling system that recycles water and stated the company aims for "water positivity" through local replenishment investments. The company also cited economic benefits including an estimated 75 jobs in the first phase and significant tax revenue. A proposed data center moratorium recently failed to gain Cheyenne City Council support, and a Microsoft annexation request also proceeded despite local resistance.
