Lyon County Commissioners approve Monarch Data Center
Lyon County Commissioners approved a rezoning request for the Monarch Data Center and an associated gas-fired power plant, despite significant public opposition and environmental concerns. The project, developed by Copia Power, requires substantial power and water, leading to legal challenges from local Paiute Tribes concerned about cultural resource impacts.
The Lyon County Commissioners approved a planned unit development rezoning request for the proposed Monarch Data Center and an associated gas-fired power plant in Yerington, Nevada, by a 3-to-1 vote on Thursday, Aug. 5.
The project, spearheaded by developer Copia Power, is projected to require at least 1,000 megawatts of power. The decision was met with strong opposition from nearly 300 attendees at the meeting, many of whom voiced concerns about the project's environmental impact, particularly its water usage within an already overallocated groundwater basin. Amidst heated emotions, 66-year-old James St. Angelo was arrested by Lyon County Sheriff's deputies outside the chambers following his testimony, facing charges of assaulting a protected person.
Copia Power now has one year to file its final planned unit development and secure state permits, including environmental approvals for transmission lines. In response to the approval, the Walker River Paiute Tribe and the Yerington Paiute Tribe have vowed to challenge the commissioner's decision in court. Their opposition stems from concerns regarding potential impacts to cultural resources and sacred sites, as well as an alleged lack of meaningful government-to-government consultation during the planning process. The Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter also expressed opposition, highlighting the project's reliance on groundwater in a region where existing demands already exceed sustainable supply.