TMRPA gets an earful of feedback during data center presentation and discussion
The Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency presented data and recommendations on data centers, receiving strong public feedback in Reno, Nevada. Many attendees opposed the findings and proposed policy changes, with some advocating for a statewide ban on data centers. Reno currently has an enacted moratorium, and TMRPA is collecting further resident input.
The Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency (TMRPA) recently held a public presentation in Reno, Nevada, to discuss new data and recommendations concerning data center developments. The event drew over 100 residents to the Reno Public Market, many of whom expressed strong opposition to the agency's findings and potential policy shifts, with some demanding an outright ban on data centers across the state.
Proposed policy considerations from TMRPA include revising tax abatements, implementing mandatory closed-loop water cooling systems, and requiring specific large-load classifications for data centers utilizing the power grid. Jeremy Smith, TMRPA's director for regional planning, addressed public inquiries about the absence of a ban recommendation, stating that such a suggestion would be made if sufficient sentiment and data supported it.
Smith confirmed that all feedback, including data from surveys regarding residents' top three concerns, will be submitted to the Regional Planning Governing Board, local city councils, and state lawmakers. While Reno currently has a data center moratorium in effect for another year, the State of Nevada does not. TMRPA is encouraging residents who could not attend the meeting to complete an online survey to further inform the agency's recommendations.