Nevada Governor signs executive order on data center development policy
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo signed an executive order to establish a policy framework for data center development in the state. The order mandates that incoming data center companies seeking tax breaks must agree to pay local school support taxes and aims to protect water supply and electrical infrastructure. This move, while praised by Lombardo, has drawn criticism from Attorney General Aaron Ford.
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo has signed an executive order establishing a new policy framework for data center development within the state. The order mandates that data center companies seeking tax abatements must agree to pay local school support taxes, aiming to ensure development is responsible and considers community interests, including water supply and electrical infrastructure protection. This action follows a 2015 state legislature framework for the industry, which saw Las Vegas host one of the world's largest data centers at Switch.
Governor Lombardo, who is running for re-election, stated that the executive order delivers on his promise to Nevadans for responsible data center development. However, Nevada Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford, also a gubernatorial candidate, criticized the order. Ford, who has advocated for ending tax breaks for the industry, dismissed Lombardo's executive order as a "last-ditch excuse" to maintain the status quo and a desperate attempt to cling to power.