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Yerington council agrees to send letter supporting Monarch Data Center; residents raise water and environmental concerns about large projects
Summary
Council members unanimously directed staff to write a letter supporting the proposed Monarch Data Center; at public comment, residents raised questions about water access, soil testing and wildlife impacts tied to large development and to a related Libra Solar water‑lease application.
The Yerington City Council voted Jan. 12 to direct city staff to prepare a letter encouraging the proposed Monarch Data Center project after a request from resident Ash Woods and the Lyon County Board of Commissioners’ prior action.
Interim City Manager Jerry Bryant told the council that the governor had also provided a letter of support. Councilman Omar Lopez and Councilman Nick Beaton both voiced support; Councilman Beaton moved to direct staff to draft the letter and Councilman Lopez seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
During public comment, resident Robin Biggs said she had attended a county commissioners meeting and expressed concern about how the Monarch project — and similar large projects — would obtain and use water. Biggs said, “It appears they’re giving this project water... I don’t understand where the water is going to go,” and raised worries about impacts to wildlife and the absence of soil‑scientist testing noted at the county hearing.
Another resident, Dave DeGrendele, said he opposed the letter of support and said he did not trust government spending for large projects. Both commenters also criticized large renewable and solar projects they said harm the desert environment.
Separately, the council packet included a draft Water Lease Agreement between the City of Yerington and Libra Solar LLC proposing to reserve up to 500 acre‑feet annually for construction and development of the Libra Solar project through June 30, 2028, conditioned on State Engineer approval of change applications. The draft lease specifies a $1,250 per acre‑foot annual reservation fee (payable quarterly) and a $750 per acre‑foot pumpage fee for water actually used, and includes provisions for metering, curtailment if city tank levels fall below a set threshold, and a clause that the city will prioritize residential service over lessee use in exigent circumstances. The transcript records public concern about water availability but does not show a council vote adopting the lease during the Jan. 12 meeting.
Council members did not take further formal action on the Libra Solar draft lease at the Jan. 12 meeting. Affected procedural next steps in the document include State Engineer action on the change applications and further city staff work if the council wishes to finalize the lease.
