Calls grow for Clark County data center regulation
Clark County commissioners are initiating research into regulating data centers amid growing concerns over their energy and water consumption and calls for a development moratorium. This follows actions by other Nevada cities, like Henderson proposing and Reno enacting data center moratoriums. Despite the regulatory discussions, Clark County recently approved a data center expansion for Switch.
The Clark County Commission is beginning to study how to regulate data centers, addressing concerns over energy demand, water use, and calls for a development moratorium. Commissioners have directed county staff to research the impact of data centers, with Commissioner William McCurdy II emphasizing the need for a uniform standard across the industry.
This move comes as other Nevada municipalities have taken action; the Henderson City Council proposed a pause on data center approvals, and the Reno City Council enacted a moratorium until August 2027. Southern Nevada already implements a ban on evaporative cooling systems for data centers. The article notes that data centers proposed statewide could account for 64% of NV Energy's electricity sales.
Despite the ongoing discussions and regulatory review, Clark County commissioners recently approved a proposal from Switch, a Las Vegas-based tech company, to add a data center to its complex in the Southwest valley.
Environmental groups, including the Sierra Club's Toiyabe chapter, and community members are actively advocating for a moratorium on data center approvals. During a commission meeting, about 15 residents spoke in opposition, with some, like Jacqueline Flores of the Nevada Property Rights Alliance, calling for increased public transparency on data center water and energy usage and questioning the claimed efficiency of existing facilities like Switch's.