Nye County Commissioners Discuss Data Center Ban in Pahrump
Residents in Pahrump, Nevada, are strongly opposing a proposed 900-acre data center due to concerns about its massive water and electricity consumption, particularly during a 'mega drought'. Nye County Commissioners are discussing a potential data center ban and proposing a special election referendum for residents to decide on the project's future. The article highlights a separate lawsuit in California's Imperial Valley over data center water rights as a cautionary tale.
Pahrump, Nevada, residents are fiercely opposing a proposed 900-acre data center, primarily due to concerns about its significant water and electricity demands in a desert region experiencing a 'mega drought'. A recent community meeting saw 77 people speak against the project, developed by Manse Technologies, while only nine supported it. Environmental and Energy Study Institute data suggests a large data center can consume up to 5 million gallons of water daily, equivalent to Pahrump's 48,000 residents' annual usage.
The article also highlights the strain on electricity grids, citing an incident where Liberty Utilities in Lake Tahoe threatened to reroute power from 49,000 residents to data centers. Nevada's data centers are projected to consume 35% of the state's electricity by 2030, up from 22% in 2024. As a cautionary example, the article details a $10 billion data center developer's lawsuit against the Imperial Irrigation District in California's Imperial Valley, asserting rights to Colorado River water, despite initial promises to use recycled wastewater.
Nye County Commissioners met to discuss a data center ban, with Commissioner Bruce Jabbour proposing a special election referendum for residents to vote on the issue as early as January. Commissioner Ian Bayne, who sponsored the ban, expressed concern that developers might continue moving forward before the public vote, questioning if the government is negotiating in bad faith with Nye County residents. The next meeting to discuss the special election details is scheduled for August 18th.