Switch Data Center Expansion in Las Vegas: Water, Energy & Jobs
The Clark County Commission approved a 56,800-square-foot expansion of the Switch data center campus in southwest Las Vegas. Commissioner Michael Naft highlighted the project's 100% renewable energy use and closed-loop water system, addressing common concerns about data center impact. He also noted the facility's existing 20-year history without noise complaints and its employment of 1500 people.
Clark County Commission Chair Michael Naft discussed the recent approval of a 56,800-square-foot expansion for the Switch data center campus in southwest Las Vegas. Naft explained that county officials viewed this project favorably, differentiating it from other proposed data centers by highlighting its environmental and economic benefits.
Naft emphasized that the Switch facility in unincorporated Clark County has been 100% renewable since 2016. He addressed concerns about water consumption by noting a closed-loop system and a mandate prohibiting evaporative cooling, which he stated significantly reduces the project's water footprint. Furthermore, Naft mentioned that the existing Switch data center has operated for 20 years without generating noise complaints from the neighborhood and currently employs 1,500 people in the area, contributing positively to local employment.