Henderson rejects data center moratorium, instead exploring code changes
The Henderson City Council rejected a proposed 180-day moratorium on data center construction, opting instead to develop permanent code changes and require individually negotiated development agreements. This decision disappointed environmental groups and residents who expressed concerns about excessive energy and water use, noise, and overall environmental impacts. The city aims to establish a regulatory framework for future data center licensing.
The Henderson City Council voted against implementing a 180-day moratorium on data center construction, a measure initially proposed by Mayor Michelle Romero last month. Instead, the council decided to explore more permanent code changes and new regulations for future data center licensing within city limits. Going forward, any new data center projects will require individually negotiated development agreements between the city and the developer.
City Attorney Nicholas Vaskov explained that code changes offer a more lasting solution compared to temporary moratoriums, which are legally defensible for a limited period. There are currently no data center applications pending before the council. This decision drew criticism from the Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter Director, Olivia Tanager, who expressed disappointment that the city did not enact a temporary pause to develop comprehensive regulations, stating that development agreements, while offering oversight, fall short of residents' requests.
Approximately 20 residents voiced concerns at the meeting regarding data center impacts, including excessive energy and water consumption, noise pollution, and broader environmental effects. Henderson currently hosts a Google data center, identified as one of the state's most water-intensive, though it uses evaporative cooling methods now prohibited for new facilities by the Southern Nevada Water Authority since 2023. Neighboring municipalities like Boulder City and Clark County are also considering new data center regulations, while others in Nevada have enacted moratoriums.