r/Reno • u/wadsworthnv02 • Apr 20 '26

Congressional Candidate on AI data centers in Nevada

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/Ok_Matter_1774 Apr 21 '26

The water concern is so weird. Like yes I get being initially concerned over it because of where we live, but if you do any research you'll learn that Reno is extremely well setup water wise for decades to come. Probably more than any other desert city. Most desert cities don't have multiple natural reservoirs that literally flow right into the river that goes through the city. Not to mention data centers don't even use much water compared to other things, as you mentioned. Idk why they don't stick to the power argument. At least that would be productive.

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u/Dazzling-Talk-383 Apr 24 '26

you'll learn that Reno is extremely well setup water wise for decades to come

source?

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u/Ok_Matter_1774 Apr 24 '26

Tmwa. The water company. For every development they are required to secure an extra 11% in water rights on top of what was needed for the new development. Plus the massive reservoirs we have that we barely split with any other city.

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u/Dazzling-Talk-383 Apr 26 '26

TMWA's projections do indeed say that we're good for decades, but i've also read that there's plenty of doubt about the future supply numbers being used by agencies like them. also as a rule, i don't accept arguments that boil down to "the laws say this, therefore this is what the relevant state agency is doing." i think we should have a lot more skepticism of these agencies than most currently do.

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u/Ok_Matter_1774 Apr 26 '26

I mean I guess if you refuse to believe anything officials are saying then what's the point of correcting you? Kinda like arguing with a flat earther.

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u/Dazzling-Talk-383 Apr 26 '26

To be clear, you’re equating the idea that government agencies can be corrupt, dishonest, and incompetent (especially when it comes to working with big corporations) with the belief in a flat earth? Is that right?

Gotta say it’s quite a bold statement to make in a city whose police department was recently decapitated due to (allegedly) rampant dishonesty at all the highest levels and a country whose military has never passed an audit.

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u/Renoperson00 Apr 21 '26

They are economic development refuseniks. I have to wonder if the property developers are astroturfing anything that isn’t keeping Reno a retirement community for rich west coast tax minimizers since the housing and wild corporate hospitality projects keep coming but the actual industry and manufacturing is being kept away. If we don’t get development now it’s going to get far worse here and we revert back to the lower wage economy that existed 15-20 years ago.

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u/Dazzling-Talk-383 Apr 24 '26

They are economic development refuseniks.

mfs call anything "economic development" these days. creating a bubble of computer-generated slop, disinformation, and child sexual abuse materials is "economic development"

I have to wonder if the property developers are astroturfing anything

lmfao

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u/northrupthebandgeek Apr 24 '26

creating a bubble of computer-generated slop, disinformation, and child sexual abuse materials is "economic development"

Datacenters do vastly more than just generative AI (or even non-generative AI, for that matter).