Lyon County developing data center ordinance
The Lyon County Commission is developing a new ordinance to regulate data center development in response to public opposition and concerns about environmental impacts, particularly water pollution and energy demand. Residents and tribal members are advocating for stricter standards and protection of natural resources. The commission has voted to revise the draft ordinance based on public and utility feedback.
The Lyon County Commission in Nevada held a workshop to discuss a proposed ordinance for data centers, prompted by growing interest from developers and significant public opposition. Commissioner John Cassinelli emphasized the county's commitment to "do it right" and responsibly establish a standard for data centers, which currently lacks specific regulations in the county.
The draft ordinance, presented by County Community Development Director Gavin Henderson, incorporates standards from other jurisdictions, addressing land use, infrastructure, water resources, noise, public safety, emergency response, and site management, including a decommissioning plan. Residents expressed strong concerns about potential water and noise pollution, traffic impacts, financial costs, and interference with wildlife and natural landscapes. James Rosashi, a fourth-generation resident, specifically highlighted existing water quality issues from past industrial projects and urged thorough research before approval.
Tribal members, including Laverne Roberts of the Yerington Paiute Tribe, advocated for environmental reviews and the protection of cultural and historical heritage, particularly the sacred Valley of Wovoka. They cited past environmental damage from projects like the Anaconda Mine and Pumpkin Hollow. NV Energy's Vice President of Business Development, Jeff Brigger, presented on the utility's unprecedented energy demand, partly driven by data centers, and the need for long-term planning to meet these demands while balancing customer costs and renewable energy goals. Corrado de Gasperis, CEO of Comstock, Inc., praised the county's initiative and suggested flexibility in the ordinance, such as tiered setbacks and water usage provisions.
The Commission voted 5-0 to direct staff to revise the draft ordinance, incorporating feedback on residential setbacks, building height separation, water/cooling requirements, and NDEP's role in air quality monitoring, to return with an updated version.