Clark County approves Switch data center project in southwest valley after public opposition
Clark County commissioners approved Switch's LAS 19 data center project in southwest Las Vegas, despite public opposition citing concerns about energy, water, and community impacts. The approval included a condition for Switch to contribute to a sidewalk safety barrier on Warm Springs Road. This decision followed discussions about the project's sustainability features and compliance with county standards.
Clark County commissioners have approved a set of zoning and development items for Switch's LAS 19 data center project in the southwest Las Vegas area, despite significant public opposition. The proposed facility, generally located east of Edmond Street and north of Warm Springs Road, is designed as a roughly 56,000-square-foot building, which is less than half the total square footage previously approved for industrial entitlements at the site.
Steven Roberts, Switch's vice president of construction development, assured commissioners that the facility would use a closed-loop cooling system, resulting in minimal water consumption beyond basic amenities. He contrasted this with an earlier approved industrial project that could have used 5,000 gallons per day with evaporative cooling. Roberts also stated the site would be powered by existing electric infrastructure, including an Audet substation built with NV Energy. Switch withdrew several landscaping waiver requests, agreeing to meet county code, and accepted a condition to financially contribute to the design and construction of a pedestrian safety barrier along Warm Springs Road.
Public commenters, including representatives from the Sierra Club and environmental justice advocates, criticized the project as part of what they termed rapid, AI-driven data center expansion. Concerns were raised regarding potential strain on Nevada’s electric grid, utility affordability, and other community impacts. Several urged the commission to follow the Enterprise Town Advisory Board’s recommendation to deny the design review and waivers.
Commissioner Michael Naft noted the county's adopted sustainability standards and highlighted that the Switch application scored 6.5 out of 7 points on the county’s sustainability point system. He confirmed the project would be dry-cooled with near-zero water consumption and supported by 100% renewable sources, a commitment Natalie Mitchell, Switch’s senior vice president, stated the company has maintained nationwide since 2016.