Here's why data center campaign contributions to Nevada politics are rising
Companies connected to Nevada data centers have increased their political contributions ahead of a legislative session expected to scrutinize the industry. Switch accounts for more than 90% of the donations, while candidates debate data center tax breaks, electricity costs, water use and local impacts.
Political donations from companies with data centers in Nevada reached their highest quarterly total in eight years, excluding a separate $1 million contribution by Jessica Roy, the wife of Switch founder Rob Roy, to a political action committee supporting Gov. Joe Lombardo. More than $100,000 was donated by companies with existing or planned Nevada data centers from July through September, with more than 90% of the industry's overall contributions attributed to Switch.
The donations come as data centers become a major issue in Nevada politics. Attorney General Aaron Ford has proposed pausing the state's data center tax-break program and banning water-intensive cooling technology, while Lombardo has supported the industry but has reduced some tax benefits and required companies to cover their own power costs. Switch has also spent heavily on energy-policy campaigns, including more than $12.6 million supporting an unsuccessful effort to create a competitive electricity market. Other companies identified as donors include Lumen, Google, Verizon and Novva, which operates facilities in North Las Vegas and the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center.