Data centers in Nevada

📜 State laws

Governor's order: data centers must pay school tax and their own power costs to get tax breaks (Executive Order 2026-005, September 2026) · Sept 2026
Governor Joe Lombardo signed Executive Order 2026-005 in mid-September 2026 (reports say Sept. 17 or 18). It took effect right away. It sets a 'Nevada Standard for Responsible Data Center Development'. The state economic development office (GOED) may only bring a data center tax break request to its board if the company first signs a pledge. The company must pay the Local School Support Tax in full, pay the costs of its own power and infrastructure so other customers are not billed, meet the local water standard, and not strain the grid during emergencies. It applies to new tax break requests, not to deals already made. It is an order, not a law; a future governor could change it. Source

The 2015 data center tax break law (SB 170) and a 2025 change · July 2025
A 2015 law (SB 170) created Nevada's data center tax breaks (now NRS 360.754). It had no rules about water or energy use, and the state had to approve any company that promised to meet the job and spending targets. According to The Nevada Independent, a 2025 change gave the state more freedom: since July 2025 the GOED board can deny a data center tax break. Since then the board has approved about $50 million in projected data center tax breaks. Source

Lawmakers asked for a 2027 bill to end data center tax breaks and pause new data centers · Aug 2026
In late August 2026 (a Wednesday meeting) the Legislature's Joint Interim Standing Committee on Revenue, chaired by Sen. Dina Neal, voted 6-2 to request a bill. It would repeal the data center tax breaks and put a statewide pause (moratorium) on building or expanding data centers. Assemblymembers Lisa Cole and Jason Patchett voted no. The bill can only be taken up in the 2027 session, which starts February 1, 2027. It is not law. Source

Senate Majority Leader asked for a 2027 data center bill · Sept 3, 2026
Sen. Nicole Cannizzaro (D-Las Vegas), who is running for attorney general, asked legislative staff to draft a 2027 bill to regulate data centers. Her plan says data centers should pay for new power and water infrastructure, not pass costs to other customers, limit secret deals (NDAs) by state and local agencies, report their power and water use, and give local communities a say on where they go. No bill text is public yet. Source

Storey County asked lawmakers to shrink data center tax breaks · 2026
Storey County, home of the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center, sent the Legislature a proposal for 2027. It would cut tax breaks from 10 or 20 years to 5 or 10 years, double the spending required, let Clark and Washoe local governments say yes or no to a tax break at a public hearing, require the state to publish each data center's tax revenue and power and water use, and require audits at 5 and 10 years. It is a proposal, not law. Source

💡 Who pays for the power

NV Energy's contracts for big power users (Large Load Electric Service Agreements) · June 3, 2026
NV Energy now serves customers that need more than about 25 megawatts and new power plants or power lines through a 'Large Load Electric Service Agreement'. The customer must sign a long-term deal, pay a minimum bill even if it uses less, and post financial guarantees; it pays exit costs if it leaves early. Each contract needs approval from the Public Utilities Commission (PUCN). In May and June 2026 NV Energy asked the PUCN to approve contracts with Amazon (docket 26-05026), Fleet Data Centers (26-05027), Vantage (26-05028), Novva (26-05029) and Prologis (26-05030). The Novva and Fleet deals run 25 years; Fleet's minimum bill is 90% of the contracted amount. No PUCN decision found yet. Source

NV Energy's 20-year power plan is driven by data centers (PUCN docket 26-05007) · May 7, 2026
On May 7, 2026 NV Energy filed its 2027-2046 resource plan with the PUCN (docket 26-05007). It says data centers have asked for up to 22 gigawatts and about 6 gigawatts of agreements are signed. It projects data centers will grow from 5% of the company's power sales in 2025 to 64% by 2046. The plan adds about 4,370 MW of solar, 5,405 MW of batteries, 1,223 MW of gas turbines and 180 MW of geothermal. In August 2026 the PUCN turned down a request from the state's consumer advocate for a public comment session on this plan. Groups like the Sierra Club warn costs could shift to homes. Source

Clean Transition Tariff: Google pays for new clean power · May 2025
In May 2025 the PUCN approved a 'Clean Transition Tariff' (dockets 24-05022 and 24-05023). It lets a big customer such as Google pay for new clean power for its data centers, starting with 115 MW of geothermal power from Fervo Energy. Some critics said it may not fully protect other customers from the costs. Source

No state law yet bans shifting data center costs to other customers · Oct 7, 2026
Nevada's Legislature meets only every two years, and no data center cost law passed in 2025. Protection for homes depends on PUCN rulings and NV Energy contracts. Both main 2027 bill requests (above) say data centers should pay their own power costs. Source

💵 Tax breaks

Data center tax breaks (NRS 360.754) · Jan 2026
A data center and its tenants can get 75% off personal property tax and a sales tax rate as low as 2% on equipment, for 10 or 20 years. The 2% rate needs a two-thirds vote of the GOED board. For 10 years: 10 full-time Nevada workers and $25 million invested within 5 years. For 20 years: 50 workers and $100 million. Workers must earn at least the statewide average wage, get health insurance (company pays at least 65%), and the business must stay in Nevada 10 years. The law runs through 2056. Source

What the tax breaks cost · Sept 18, 2026
The Nevada Independent found local governments lost $537 million in sales and use tax from fiscal year 2017 to 2025 because of data center breaks, including $236 million in school support tax. The state has approved a projected $461 million in data center tax breaks over 11 years. GOED says it does not track whether companies kept their promises. Since September 2026 the governor's order says new deals must pay the school support tax in full. Source

🤐 Secret deals and public records

How to get public records (Nevada Public Records Act) · Oct 7, 2026
Any person may ask to see or copy public records of a state or local government in Nevada (NRS 239.010). You do not need to give a reason or be a resident. You can ask in writing or out loud. By the end of the 5th business day the agency must give you the records, tell you who has them, give a date when they will be ready, or deny in writing with the law it relies on (NRS 239.0107). If denied, you can ask a district court to order the records released (NRS 239.011). Copies may cost money; looking is free. Source

Tax break audits are kept from the public · April 2, 2026
State law (NRS 360.755) says audits of data center tax breaks become public once done, except trade secrets. But GOED lets companies decide whether their audit is shared, and it refused The Nevada Independent's request for completed audits. Lawyers quoted by the paper say this may break the law. Source

No state rule limits secret deals (NDAs) · Oct 7, 2026
We found no Nevada law that bans or limits non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) between local governments or GOED and data center companies. A 2027 bill request from Sen. Cannizzaro would limit them. Source

💧 Water

The State Engineer decides water rights; anyone interested can protest within 30 days · Oct 7, 2026
Using new water, or moving a water right to a new place or use, needs a permit from the State Engineer (Nevada Division of Water Resources). Each application is published as a notice in a local newspaper. Any interested person can file a written protest within 30 days after the last notice runs (NRS 533.365). The protest must give reasons and be signed under oath (affidavit). The State Engineer must reject a request if there is no water left, if it hurts existing rights or wells, or if it is against the public interest. You can look up applications in the online permit search. Source

Cooling water discharge needs a state permit · Oct 7, 2026
If a data center puts used cooling water into the ground or ponds, it needs a permit from the Bureau of Water Pollution Control (NDEP). Draft permits get a public 'Notice of Proposed Action' with a comment period, as for a Vantage data center in Storey County. Source

Governor's order: data centers seeking tax breaks must meet local water standards · Sept 2026
Under Executive Order 2026-005 (September 2026), companies asking for new tax breaks must pledge to meet the water standard where they build. The order does not say what that standard is. Source

🌫️ Air and generators

Who approves diesel generators and power plants · Oct 7, 2026
Three agencies issue air permits. In Clark County (Las Vegas area), the county's Division of Air Quality. In Washoe County (Reno, Sparks), Northern Nevada Public Health's Air Quality Management Division. Everywhere else, including Storey County and the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center, the state Bureau of Air Pollution Control (NDEP). Big data centers need permits for their backup diesel generators; one Storey County permit covers 358 generators. Draft permits are posted as public notices with a comment period. Source

New power plants and big power lines need a PUCN permit (UEPA) · Oct 7, 2026
Under the Utility Environmental Protection Act (NRS 704.865), anyone except a local government building a utility facility in Nevada needs a permit from the PUCN. This covers power plants over 70 MW and power lines over 200 kV. The PUCN issues it only after all other permits are in place. In January 2026 Copia Digital filed notice for two up-to-500 kV lines for its Bergen data center (docket 26-01035). Source

🙋 How to have your say

Who decides a data center near you · Oct 7, 2026
Inside a city, the city council decides zoning, usually after a planning commission hearing. Outside cities (unincorporated land, like Pahrump or the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center), the county commission decides; in Clark County it sits as the zoning board. Nevada has no township governments that zone land. Tax breaks go to the GOED board in Carson City, power contracts to the PUCN, water rights to the State Engineer, and air permits to NDEP or the Clark or Washoe air agency. Source

Appeal a zoning decision within 25 days · Oct 7, 2026
To challenge a final city or county planning or zoning decision in court, you must file within 25 days after the notice of the decision is filed with the clerk (NRS 278.0235). The deadline is strict. Many cities and counties also allow an appeal from the planning commission to the council or commission first; check your local code. Source

Ask for records about a data center · Oct 7, 2026
Anyone can file a public records request (NRS 239). Send it to the city, county or state office that holds the record, for example development agreements, tax break files at GOED, or emails. The agency must respond within 5 business days. See the 'secrecy' section for the rules. Source

Comment at the utility commission (PUCN) · Oct 7, 2026
The PUCN works like a court: only official parties can take part in a case. Anyone else can send a written public comment on a docket or speak at a 'consumer session' or at the public comment time of a PUCN meeting. The Bureau of Consumer Protection in the Attorney General's office speaks for home customers in utility cases. Key dockets: 26-05007 (NV Energy 20-year plan) and 26-05026 to 26-05030 (data center power contracts). Source

Protest a water right or comment on an air permit · Oct 7, 2026
Watch the State Engineer's notices: you have 30 days after the last newspaper notice to file a protest under oath (NRS 533.365). For air and water pollution permits, comment during the public notice period posted by NDEP, Clark County or Northern Nevada Public Health. Source

Speak to the Legislature in 2027 · Feb 1, 2027
The 2027 session starts February 1, 2027. Data center bills (moratorium and tax break repeal; Cannizzaro's bill) will appear on NELIS, where anyone can read bills and submit an opinion or sign up to testify. Source

🧾 Help with your bills

Energy Assistance Program (EAP) · July 7, 2026
The state Energy Assistance Program gives a once-a-year credit on your power or gas bill. Your household income must be at or below 150% of the federal poverty line: for July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 that is $1,995 a month for 1 person, $2,705 for 2, $3,415 for 3 and $4,125 for 4 (add $710 for each extra person). You must live in Nevada and pay for heating or cooling. Apply through the Division of Social Services. Source

📞 Who to contact

Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) · Oct 7, 2026
Sets NV Energy rates, approves data center power contracts and power plant/power line permits, and takes public comment. Source

Bureau of Consumer Protection (Attorney General) · Oct 7, 2026
Represents home and small business customers in utility cases. Source

Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) · Oct 7, 2026
Reviews and approves data center tax breaks at public board meetings. Source

Nevada Division of Water Resources (State Engineer) · Oct 7, 2026
Decides water right permits and protests. Source

Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) · Oct 7, 2026
Air permits outside Clark and Washoe counties; water pollution permits statewide. Source

Clark County Division of Air Quality · Oct 7, 2026
Air permits (including generators) in Clark County. Source

Northern Nevada Public Health, Air Quality Management Division · Oct 7, 2026
Air permits in Washoe County (Reno, Sparks). Source

Nevada Legislature (NELIS) · Oct 7, 2026
Bills, interim committee meetings and public testimony. Source

Division of Social Services, Energy Assistance Program · Oct 7, 2026
Help paying power and gas bills. Source

Nevada Public Notice Website · Oct 7, 2026
Meeting notices and agendas for state and local public bodies. Source