Reno Imposes Groundbreaking Ban on Data Center Permits
In an unprecedented move, Reno has positioned itself as the first city in the state to impose a temporary halt on special use permits for new data centers. The decision was reached after an exhaustive nine-hour council meeting.
The council’s vote resulted in a 6-1 decision, with councilmember Kathleen Taylor casting the sole opposing vote. This moratorium is set to stay in effect until August 31, 2027, or until the necessary development regulations are established.
Initially, the ban was supposed to last only six months, but during the meeting, councilmember Devon Reese proposed a longer duration. Reese remarked, “I just think we will need more time than we are allowing ourselves. Government is very bad at moving quickly and when we do move quickly, we do it very poorly.”
The council faced significant pressure from various groups, including environmental advocates, indigenous water protectors, and local community members, all of whom were opposed to the establishment of data centers in the area. Construction union representatives expressed their disagreement with an all-encompassing ban, emphasizing the importance of data center jobs for the local economy, though their voices were largely outnumbered by those favoring the moratorium.
Concerns raised by citizens focused on the data centers’ high consumption of water and power, along with potential risks of pollution affecting air, water, and noise levels. This pause provides the city with an opportunity to draft regulations aimed at addressing sustainability and community impact issues associated with future data center projects.
“No moratorium can be lifted in the absence of regulations,” Reese added, underscoring the council’s commitment to ensuring that appropriate guidelines are in place before any development resumes.
