development
An article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal describes how Data Centers are going to influence electric rates in not only southern Nevada but northern Nevada as well. Data centers not only use huge amounts of electricity but also water.
Southern Nevada has instituted a requirement that data centers recycle the cooling water they use. Northern Nevada has no such requirement. Data centers could potentially be a factor in electrical rate increases and aquifer drawdowns.
In a related article, NV Energy is already preparing for increased demand, ending its contract with Liberty Energy that provides the California side of Lake Tahoe with electricity. The utility is also building two new cross-Nevada transmission lines to prepare. Some of the construction costs are passed on to ratepayers.
It appears that with data centers and western Nevada’s growth, water and energy demands will have to take a higher priority in planning.
NV Energy says they want to make sure customers don’t experience disruptions to service or a significant increase in bill costs.
NV Energy is currently finishing up construction of the Greenlink West and North multibillion dollar transmission lines across Nevada that will supply the power. State regulators have already approved a rate increase in Southern Nevada of roughly $2.18 to $2.21 a month, half the increase NV Energy sought.
Southern Nevada has prohibited new construction that uses evaporative cooling. The massive amounts of water used by Data Centers has to be recycled. There is no such requirement in Northern Nevada yet. A state wide ban on evaporative cooling was defeated in last years legislature.ti
The Las Vegas Review Journal found that existing data centers in Southern Nevada used 716 million gallons of water in 2024 that wasn’t recycled. That’s enough to supply 4,395 single family homes for a year.
Nevada’s runaway housing and industrial land, power and water needs may be reaching unsustainable levels in our high desert environment.
Article compiled from information in this link (paywall):
https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/environment/unprecedented-data-centers-want-to-triple-nevadas-energy-grid-capacity-3462716/
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