Pahrump residents skeptical of proposed Manse Technology Campus data center

Gigawatt Development is proposing an $18.4 billion data center complex, the Manse Technology Campus, for Pahrump, Nevada, with a projected groundbreaking in 2027. The developers are actively engaging in a public relations campaign, promising substantial long-term funding for Pahrump schools, public safety, and community infrastructure, projecting tens of millions annually in property taxes and thousands of jobs.

However, the proposal is meeting skepticism from Nye County residents, who are wary of the promises from the company, whose LLC, Manse Technology Campus, was only recently formed. Gigawatt President Sean Dalesandro claims the project will self-fund its infrastructure, use pre-owned water rights, and avoid increasing power costs for residents, while highlighting a closed-loop cooling system that will use less than 300 acre-feet of water annually.

Despite the developer's claims, residents are concerned about the project's water demands in an area already facing groundwater availability issues. The situation draws parallels to other contentious data center proposals in Nevada, such as one in Boulder City where Skylar Energy Resources secured federal land approval despite local protest, prompting Rep. Dina Titus to draft legislation for increased transparency.

The debate in Pahrump is unfolding amidst national anxiety over the environmental impact of large data centers, with examples like New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's executive order for a hyperscale facility moratorium. Manse Technology Campus officials have scheduled community Q&A sessions and an open house to address resident concerns and build trust.