Developer asks judge to toss Pahrump data center ban amid water fight
A tech developer is seeking a judge's order to overturn Nye County's ban on data centers in the Pahrump Valley, arguing the ordinance violates property rights. The ban was enacted due to concerns over water scarcity in the region. The developer's previous project, the Manse Technology Campus, faced significant public opposition.
A data center developer has filed a legal petition in Nye County, Nevada, asking a judge to overturn a ban on data centers in the water-stressed Pahrump Valley. Developer Sean Dalesandro stated his company is seeking to uphold fairness, arguing that the ban unlawfully disregarded significant investment into zoning for his previously proposed Manse Technology Campus. This project had drawn protests from hundreds of local residents.
The legal action specifically targets the ban on data centers within basin 162, the Pahrump Valley Hydrographic Basin, where existing water rights significantly exceed the annual water yield. Dalesandro's petition seeks to reverse the data center ordinance, allow his project to proceed, and recover attorney's fees. Nye County Commissioner Ian Bayne, who initially proposed the ban, reiterated his confidence in the ordinance following the developer's legal challenge. While the developer expressed willingness to work with commissioners on implementing code changes to address concerns about water, noise, and the character of the valley, no initial court date has been scheduled for the case.