TMRPA updates data center research, schedules public forum; board accepts staff report

The Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency governing board on Aug. 14 accepted a staff report summarizing the agency’s research into data centers and announced a public community conversation for Aug. 20 at the Collaboratory in Reno.

The report, presented by Director Jeremy Smith, summarized the agency’s role reviewing projects of regional significance and described updated findings about energy and water demands, tax abatements and potential community impacts. Following Smith’s presentation, three members of the public urged stricter local requirements and further analysis before more data centers locate in the Truckee Meadows region.

"I encourage you to continue to research all of those items and, including developing requirements or recommending requirements that local jurisdictions can take with regard to water use, to air quality, to noise abatement, and to fire prevention," said Kathy Folkerson, introduced in the meeting as a facilitator with Third Act Nevada.

Sandy Roth praised the agency’s work and asked officials to drill down on tax revenue, fire risks and diesel-generator emissions, referencing a Phoenix city council conversation and an International Association of Fire Fighters review of data-center fire response. "We want them to be responsible citizens and not adversely impact our environment and our residents," Roth said.

Robin Palmer also thanked Director Smith and the board for holding community outreach and said residents want to ensure data centers do not have a detrimental impact on the area.

Why it matters: data centers can demand large amounts of electric power and—depending on cooling technology—varying amounts of water and emergency-suppression resources. TMRPA said its work is twofold: (1) fulfill the agency’s statutory review role for projects of regional significance (for example, facilities or pipelines that meet thresholds set in state law) and (2) compile and make accessible regional data so local governments and the public can weigh policy choices.

Key clarifications from the presentation: staff corrected an earlier public figure about water consumption that had been overstated in prior briefings. Director Smith said a prior statement implying very large per‑megawatt water use was incorrect; tabled permit requests from three recent Reno applications showed roughly 12 acre‑feet of water for a combined 45 megawatts in that permit sample, and staff suspects the true number for similar local proposals is likely in the range of a few acre‑feet per megawatt (staff provided a working estimate of about 0.5 acre‑feet per megawatt as a rough calculation but cautioned this is a preliminary estimate). Smith also reported that some operators (including a Google spokesperson for a Story County facility) say they use no water for cooling and rely on other cooling technologies, a choice that generally increases power demand.

The staff presentation explained how Nevada Energy and the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) figure into regional planning: Nevada Energy uses an Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) process to plan capacity and the PUCN regulates rates and cost allocation. Smith warned that large new loads can create rate‑pressures and pointed to other states where research has linked data‑center growth to local rate increases; he said the agency will continue to track rate impacts and utility cost‑sharing mechanisms (for example, utility rule 9 type agreements).

Mr. Smith also described economic incentives available through the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED), including a personal‑property abatement (up to 75% reduction for qualifying equipment for a 10‑ or 20‑year period) and potential sales tax reductions, and said staff is preparing a hypothetical model to show potential fiscal impacts and franchise‑fee revenue for local governments.

Board action: a motion to accept the staff report was made and seconded and the governing board voted in favor. The motion was recorded as passed.

What’s next: TMRPA will host a public conversation (6:00–7:30 p.m., Aug. 20, Collaboratory) with agency staff and invited representatives from Nevada Energy, Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA), and GOED available to answer questions. The agency will publish a data‑center research web page with the bibliography and will share a survey to capture additional public feedback ahead of an Oct. 1 joint City of Reno meeting on possible data‑center ordinance work.

Ending: Board members emphasized the need for balanced policy that protects resources and public safety while recognizing potential economic benefits. Several commissioners asked staff to prepare detailed fiscal and resource‑use examples to inform future policy discussions.