Protestors demonstrate against a planned data center in Yerington
Residents in Yerington, Nevada, protested against the proposed Monarch Data Center due to concerns about water usage and electricity consumption. The Lyon County Commissioners are scheduled to vote on whether to approve or deny the project, which would take up 505 acres and require significant power and water.
Dozens of residents in Yerington, Nevada, protested against the planned Monarch Data Center, urging the Lyon County Commission to deny the project. The proposed data center, developed by Copia Power, would span 505 acres off Penrose Lane and could consume up to one gigawatt of power, comparable to the highest capacity data centers in the U.S.
Protesters raised concerns about potential negative environmental impacts, including water contamination and the project's estimated use of 800 acre-feet of water annually (over 260 million gallons), especially after several years of drought that have critically lowered local water resources. While the county planning commission voted 4-3 to advance the project on July 14th, the Lyon County Commissioners are set to vote on its final approval or denial. Copia Power estimates the project would generate $2.5 billion in tax revenue for the county, with construction on the first phase planned for late 2027 or early 2028. Supporters argue the development could bring jobs and revitalize the town.