Will Reno press pause on new data centers? Council weighs regulations

The Reno City Council has unanimously voted to explore modifying requirements and implementing new regulations for data centers within the city's code. Council members Devon Reese, Naomi Duerr, and Meghan Ebert specifically pushed for a data center moratorium to be discussed as early as May 6. Council member Reese emphasized the opportune timing for a pause, noting there are currently no data center applications in the queue. Reno senior planner Lauren Knox indicated the moratorium discussion would return promptly, acknowledging that such debates typically lead to a surge in applications. Regionally, the concept of halting data center applications during regulatory reviews has gained traction, with the Sparks City Council also considering similar regulations and moratoriums. This latest initiative follows a failed attempt by Reno’s council in February 2025 to introduce city code regulations for data centers, despite an increase in data center development across Nevada. Environmental group Sierra Club Toiyabe, through organizer Cullen McGinnis, advocated for a temporary moratorium and stringent regulations, critiquing the council's past inaction. After a lengthy public comment period and receiving 155 letters of concern, the council agreed to direct staff to develop regulatory proposals. While council members like Kathleen Taylor and Meghan Ebert expressed differing perspectives, the council ultimately advanced the process. Currently, data centers in Reno are subject only to general "land-use" requirements and a conditional-use permit process, lacking specific city regulations on critical issues such as water usage, power consumption, or noise levels.