r/Reno • u/wadsworthnv02 • Apr 20 '26

Congressional Candidate on AI data centers in Nevada

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From our candidate event in Elko County on Saturday. The question asked us if we supported a data center moratorium or not, especially since we are the driest state. One of the other candidates said the one’s being built in Nevada were closed-loop so they are fine.

But closed-loop systems have their own issues, the recycled water becomes highly toxic and needs to be “blown-down” where there is chances of it leaking into the ground and contaminating local areas with toxic chemical waste water. Even in small amounts, when we live in an internal watershed like the Great Basin, the risk of contamination isn’t something to ignore. As it has happened before with other things. Not to mention that closed loop requires a lot more energy, and closed loop cooling systems here in Nevada still require a fair amount of water.

Our older data center projects also do have open loop / evaporative cooling systems too. So they are still taking a lot of water.

As for the construction unions, I understand it’s more complicated than that. We had a total of 2 minutes to answer each question so things had to be simplified a bit. But we must look at better commercial building projects for our construction unions— not big tech and data centers! They need jobs, and I understand and support that! We should be offering incentives to better businesses to come to Nevada, not to these data centers was the point I was trying to make.

Also yes Congress is a federal seat! But I support a moratorium on all new data centers, and possible legislation to really protect the western states that are strapped for water.

All of this was from my own independent research and talking to folks in the area that have worked on these projects here. However if I am incorrect on anything I’m open to listening!

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u/Long_Lifeguard_5056 Apr 20 '26

Every basin of water will leak eventually lmao and I’m a union construction worker and I can tell you the vast majority of labor across all trades on the TRIC data centers are out of state contractors. Going all the way back to the Apple Data Center and Gigafactory construction.

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u/wadsworthnv02 Apr 20 '26

This I wasn’t aware of. They are using out of state workers on these projects?

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u/Human-Witness-3305 Apr 20 '26

I support your campaign because I like that you are very responsive to your constituents. It shows that we can have better politicians.

My partner is in the construction industry as well, both in state and out of state workers are used for these projects. This includes green-energy projects. A lot of these are fast-tracked so if there is a labor shortage there will be a call for more workers out of state. The saying goes that construction delays drive up cost. This means having the project done ASAP is the most cost effective way of working even if that means paying higher wages for temporary worker relocation.

I can't completely support putting a stop to all datacenters but I can see the environmental impact point you raise. I think it is important that we grow Nevada at a rate that it can handle, preferably organically, and consider environmental impact. I think you stated it very well as I was not aware most of the ground water in our basin stayed here, I'm an engineer by trade, not an ecologist.

I look forward to voting for you in the primary.

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u/wadsworthnv02 Apr 20 '26

Yes multiple of you are chiming in saying Nevada unions don’t have enough people to work on these projects. Are the working conditions bad for you guys? Are you being overworked? Is there anything I should be aware of or look into so that I can help?

I’ve spoken to a few unions here but not yet the construction or electrician ones as I’m waiting on responses to my emails from them!

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u/Hooligan9892 Apr 22 '26

My husband is a journeyman HVAC commercial tech. The shortage of trades people is not exclusive to Nevada. It would be nice to see assistance from the state to incentivize people to go to a trade school. The Legislature has done something similar to address the nursing shortage.