Data Centers in the North Valleys: What Our Community Should Know

Why This Matters Now

Data centers are rapidly expanding across Northern Nevada – and the North Valleys is becoming a key area of interest.

In the last 18 months alone,

• 4 data center projects have been approved in Northern Nevada

• 3 of those are located in the North Valleys

  
  

At the same time, Reno has been identified as one of the fastest-growing data center markets in the country.

This isn’t a future issue – it’s happening now.

What Is a Data Center?

A data center is a facility that stores, processes, and distributes large amounts of digital information.

They support things we use every day like:

• Cloud storage

• Streaming services

• AI and technology infrastructure

• Business and financial systems

  
  

While they may look like large warehouses from the outside, their resource demands are very different.

Understanding the Impact

Data centers bring economic opportunity – but they also come with significant infrastructure demands that communities need to plan for.

Energy Use

• A single project can require energy equivalent to ~40,000 homes

Water Use

• Cooling systems may use water comparable to 4 golf courses

Land Use & Zoning

• Often classified similarly to warehouses

• Approved through conditional use permits

• Currently, there are limited standardized requirements for energy and water use at this scale

Speed of Approval

• Projects can move from submission to Planning Commission review in as little as 90 days

  
  

What’s Changing Locally

Different jurisdictions are responding in different ways:

• City of Sparks→ Leading efforts to strengthen zoning and application requirements

• Washoe County→ Actively evaluating policy, infrastructure, and long-term impacts

• City of Reno→ Has chosen to pause major decisions for up to two years

  
  

👉 The challenge: development is moving faster than policy in many cases

Why Community Input Matters

Data center projects are typically reviewed by the Planning Commission, but final decisions can involve:

• Washoe County Commissioners

• Reno City Council

  
  

In some cases, decisions made at the Planning level can be overturned at the council level.

👉 This means public input is not just encouraged – it is part of the official record and decision-making process.

Communities across Nevada have already shown that engaged residents can influence outcomes.

A Balanced Approach: Growth with Guardrails

This conversation is not about stopping development.

It’s about ensuring that growth happens with:

• Clear zoning and land-use standards

• Defined expectations for water and energy use

• Transparency in applications and infrastructure planning

• Consideration of long-term community impact

  
  

One tool being discussed is a moratorium:

👉 A moratorium is a temporary pause on new approvals that allows time to:

• Study impacts

• Develop consistent policies

• Align requirements across jurisdictions

  
  

This approach helps ensure decisions are made with full information – not under pressure of timing.

What You Can Do

If you want to stay informed and involved:

1. Learn More

• Watch the full community presentation at our 3.16.26 SKCO montly meeting

• Follow updates from the Truckee Meadows Data Center Policy Consortium

2. Participate in the Process

• Attend Planning Commission and City Council meetings

• Submit public comments (written or in person)

3. Stay Informed on Local Leadership

• Decisions impacting the North Valleys are influenced by:→ Washoe County Commission Districts 4 & 5

  
  

Understanding who represents your area – and how they approach growth – matters.

Final Thought

This is a defining moment for our region.

Where timing, growth, and community impact all intersect.

We have an opportunity to help shape not just what gets built –but how it happens.

And that starts with being informed, engaged, and part of the conversation.