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Residents urge Lyon County to scrutinize battery storage and data center impacts on health, water and power
Summary
During final public comment, residents warned of health risks from lithium‑ion battery fires and questioned how proposed large-scale data centers would be supplied with water and electricity, urging the county to ensure adequate siting distances and resource planning.
YERINGTON — Multiple residents used the final public‑comment period of the Nov. 20 Lyon County commission meeting to urge stricter review of battery storage installations and large data centers, citing health, water and power concerns.
Phyllis Haskett told commissioners that lithium‑ion battery fires can release hazardous gases and heavy metals and asked the board to ensure battery systems are sited well away from residences. She cited a recent Boulder City fire and listed combustion byproducts including hydrogen fluoride, carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide as risks to respiratory health.
"When lithium ion batteries burn, they release a hazardous mix of gases and particles," Haskett said, urging the board to address siting and public‑health protections as the county reviews applications for battery storage and related projects.
Other commenters questioned the resource demands of proposed data centers. One speaker said a proposed 1,000‑megawatt data center in Mason Valley could consume many times the electricity Lyon County currently uses, asking where that power would come from and how the county would protect essential public services and wells.
Robert Berry, a longtime firefighter and former state worker, raised concerns about water use, citing estimates from other states that data centers can require millions of gallons of water per day depending on design and cooling systems. He said federal agencies and the public will pursue additional information and urged caution about siting such facilities.
Why it matters: The county is evaluating multiple large infrastructure proposals (transmission, solar, battery storage, data centers) that will shape local water, power and emergency response needs. Public health and resource‑use concerns raised in the meeting underscore the need for clear environmental review, emergency planning and interagency coordination.
Next steps: Commissioners heard the comments; no formal action was taken during the meeting. BLM and developers present at the meeting previously described project stages and constraints; county staff and commissioners indicated ongoing coordination with applicants and agencies would continue.
