AI data center deals must be carefully crafted, EPA chief says in Las Vegas

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin visited Las Vegas, Nevada, holding a roundtable discussion with local leaders after touring a Switch AI data center and Symphony Park, a redeveloped railyard. Zeldin addressed the increasing energy and water demands posed by AI data centers, noting Nevada's growing role in this sector. He highlighted Las Vegas's response to water shortages, including a ban on evaporative cooling for new commercial properties, a policy that could serve as a model for a statewide ban. Zeldin also referenced the national Water Reuse Action Plan, advocating for the use of recycled water in data center cooling systems. The administrator emphasized that industries should not solely consume water without utilizing advanced reuse technologies. Regarding energy, Zeldin noted that NV Energy faces requests to quadruple its peak capacity for pending data center projects in Las Vegas and Reno, raising concerns among ratepayers about potential cost increases. He stressed the importance of data center developers partnering with communities to create mutually beneficial agreements, citing Google's solar-powered data center in West Memphis, Arkansas, as an example of a sustainable approach that benefits local ratepayers.