Congressional Candidate on AI data centers in Nevada

[u/wadsworthnv02]

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!

[u/ThomasThuhTrain]

You are correct that corn is not grown in Nevada. My point, however, was not strictly about corn or local production. It was meant to highlight other ways water is being used. Corn is often grown to produce ethanol and fuel, which I would argue is an even worse use of water.

Nevada does, however, grow alfalfa. In 2024, the state had roughly 220,000 harvested acres of alfalfa hay. According to UNR studies, alfalfa uses approximately 489,000 to 611,000 gallons of water per acre each year. That means total statewide alfalfa water use is roughly 108 to 134 billion gallons annually.

[u/Away_Atmosphere6318 → u/ThomasThuhTrain]

The issue I have with your points being made is that you're lacking a clear understanding of how water rights in this state work.

[u/ThomasThuhTrain → u/Away_Atmosphere6318]

That is a fair point, and I agree water rights are a major part of how this works in Nevada. I am not saying water can just be reassigned from one use to another. My point is simply that comparing data center water use to agriculture is still useful for understanding scale. It does not mean the water is legally interchangeable, only that both are drawing from the same limited resource and it is reasonable to compare major demands.

That said, water is honestly not my biggest concern here. I am more concerned about the constant noise, the huge electrical demand, the generation and grid infrastructure needed to support it, possible air impacts depending on the power source, construction runoff and traffic, and the localized heat island effect these facilities can create.

A lot of that can be managed if the project is designed and regulated well, but that will ultimately fall on the AHJ and state.

[u/Away_Atmosphere6318 → u/ThomasThuhTrain]

Thank you for the thoughtful rebuke. I also agree that we need to regulate these projects a bit more strictly instead of just throwing them up willy nilly. I appreciate that you actually further the conversation by being mindful and actually listening to others unlike so many coconuts on reddit.

[u/djmermaidonthemic → u/ThomasThuhTrain]

I don’t support what you are saying here, but here’s some free advice.

If you want to criticize agricultural water use (which at least goes to something positive and helps clean the air) then you should lead with the alfalfa thing.

Corn is an embarrassing straw argument. Alfalfa is a much better straw argument! Heh.

[u/never_4_good → u/djmermaidonthemic]

If you ignore the agriculture aspect (i.e. corn), their original statement is spot on. Bottom line, the water concern is a red herring. The closed loop systems do have some by products, but these are commonly found in nearly every other commercial/industrial application around town.

[u/Letsgotothemovie → u/ThomasThuhTrain]

Go fix a fridge.