Reno’s Data Center Battle Raises Red Flags About Backroom Deals

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Are government bureaucrats making backdoor deals that could affect your electric bills and property rights?

Remember when city officials used to hold public meetings before making big decisions? Well, in January 2024, Reno city planners quietly changed the rules about data centers without telling anyone.

No public meetings. No announcements. They just did it.

Conflict of Interest: Former City Manager’s Role

Here's where it gets interesting.

The former Reno city manager, Doug Thornley, helped create these new rules. Now he's working as a private attorney representing a company that wants to build Reno's first data center. If that doesn't raise your eyebrows, it should.

The real issue here isn't just about one data center. It's about how government officials are making decisions behind closed doors.

Commissioner Manny Becerra, who voted against the project, put it well:

“With additional data center applications on the horizon, addressing individual concerns piecemeal is not a sustainable approach.”

What Are Data Centers?

What's a data center? Think of it as a giant warehouse filled with computers that store everything from your Facebook photos to company databases.

They use lots of electricity – about 9% of all power used in Nevada. That number could jump to 20% by 2030.

The proposal for Webb Data Center outlines an 82,000-square-foot industrial building adjacent to an Amazon warehouse in North Valleys. This would be the first data center located within Reno's city limits.

“A data center is not a warehouse,” says Sierra Club Toiyabe Director Olivia Tanager.

For once, conservatives might find themselves agreeing with the Sierra Club. These facilities are different from regular warehouses. They need massive amounts of power and water, and they affect nearby property values.

Data Centers by the Numbers

Let's look at some numbers that should concern every taxpayer:

  • Nevada already has 40 data centers
  • They use nearly 9% of all electricity in the state
  • 15 more centers are planned for Northern Nevada
  • Each center needs its own power substation

The Difference Between Free Market Growth and Backroom Deals

Now, you might be thinking, “What's wrong with new business coming to town?”

Nothing at all. Free market development is great. But there's a difference between free market growth and government officials making sweeping changes without public input.

The Revolving Door Between Government and Industry

The former city manager's involvement raises another red flag. He helped write rules that made it easier to approve data centers. Then he left his government job and started representing a data center company. This kind of revolving door between government and private industry often leads to sweetheart deals that hurt taxpayers.

What Can Conservatives Do?

  1. Show up at the Reno City Council hearing on January 22. Make your voice heard about the importance of transparent government.
  2. Contact your city council members. Tell them you want all future zoning changes discussed in public meetings, not decided behind closed doors.
  3. Ask tough questions about who benefits from these deals. Are taxpayers getting a fair shake?
  4. Demand clear rules about former government officials representing private companies in deals they helped create.

Good Government is Transparent Government

The bigger picture here isn't about whether data centers are good or bad. It's about ensuring government officials play by the rules and make decisions in the open. When they don't, it usually means someone's getting a special deal at taxpayer expense.

Remember, good government is transparent government. When officials start making rules without public input, it's time to start asking questions.

Let's make sure Reno's future growth happens in the sunshine, not in the shadows of backrooms.

This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.