Reno Planning Commission urges City Council to consider temporary pause on new data center permits

The Reno Planning Commission on Feb. 5 adopted a resolution recommending that the Reno City Council consider a temporary, time‑certain pause on the filing and issuance of new permits for data centers while the city conducts a study of their economic, environmental and community impacts.

The move followed more than two hours of public comment and a presentation from Commissioner Manny Becerra, who said the resolution is meant to create predictability for applicants, staff and the public and to give the city time to develop a “nimble or adaptable” framework that aligns data center approvals with the Reno Master Plan. "This is not a ban," Becerra said. "We're gonna, hopefully focus more on ... not allowing new permits to flow through, which can cause strain on our infrastructure and our resources."

The recommendation will be forwarded to City Council; staff said any final moratorium would require action by the council or the city manager. Planning Manager Mike Greeley clarified that “only the city manager and city council have the ability to initiate a moratorium of any sort,” and that the staff report summarizing tonight’s discussion and public comment will be included in the council packet for its Feb. 26 meeting.

Why it matters: commenters, neighborhood advocates and climate groups described concerns about water use, grid impacts, wildfire risk, and who ultimately bears the cost of new grid infrastructure. Multiple speakers cited the Webb data center and the recent City Council approvals as the backdrop for the discussion; public…