Public hearing on data center regulations set
Nye County has rescheduled a public hearing for a proposed bill on data center regulations, Bill No. 2026-14, which seeks to establish new land use rules and special permit requirements. The bill excludes Pahrump, where data centers are already banned, and will address aspects like water consumption and development standards. The hearing is set for October 8th in Pahrump and Tonopah.
Nye County has rescheduled a critical public hearing for its proposed data center regulations bill, Nye County Bill No. 2026-14. Originally canceled due to an incomplete legal review by the Nye County District Attorney's Office, the hearing is now slated for Thursday, October 8, at 10 a.m. at the Nye County Commissioners' Chambers in both Pahrump and Tonopah.
The bill proposes significant amendments to Nye County Code Title 17, introducing new land use regulations, special use permit requirements, and comprehensive development standards for data center facilities across the county. Notably, the legislation explicitly excludes Pahrump, where data centers are currently prohibited. The definition of a 'data center' within the bill is extensive, encompassing facilities housing computer systems, servers, network equipment, and all associated electrical, mechanical, and cooling infrastructure.
This 46-page bill delves into numerous specifics, including limiting data centers to light and heavy industrial zones, mandating both special use permits and development agreements, and outlining requirements for transferability, variances, site plans, various studies and reports, and critical aspects like water adequacy and consumption, along with construction and development standards.