The city of Reno votes to work on new regulations for data centers. Alin Beane reports.

Reno City Council unanimously voted to direct staff to amend the city code to incorporate new regulations for data centers following a lengthy public comment session on Wednesday. The decision comes amidst significant community concern regarding a data center under construction on Keystone Avenue and potential future projects. Over 150 residents shared concerns, including Krista George, who lives next to the Keystone Avenue data center and voiced fears about noise pollution impacting her health and property values. The Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter also rallied dozens of people, highlighting issues like skyrocketing electricity bills, contaminated water, and noise pollution. Councilman Devon Reese, a mayoral candidate, attended the rally after calling for a moratorium on data centers. While a moratorium could not be passed during Wednesday's meeting due to not being on the agenda, city staff, including Senior Planner Lauren Knox, indicated that efforts would be made to place it on a future agenda, possibly for a special meeting, due to the item's community significance. Council members also discussed the potential economic benefits of data centers for Reno alongside the public's concerns.