Water & Environment · Nevada
New poll finds most Nevada voters oppose more large data centers and worry about growth's effect on water
A Noble Predictive Insights survey of 800 Nevada voters found 57 percent oppose more large data centers and 83 percent worry about growth and water, as the issue moves into the governor's race.
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What the poll found
A majority of Nevada voters oppose building more large data centers, and an even larger share are worried about growth and the state's water supply, according to a statewide poll reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Noble Predictive Insights, a nonpartisan polling firm based in Phoenix, surveyed 800 registered Nevada voters from Sept. 22 through Sept. 26. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.46 percentage points.
Data center construction
Asked whether they support construction of additional large data centers in Nevada, 57 percent of respondents said they oppose it, 34 percent said they support it and 9 percent were unsure. Separately, 83 percent said they are concerned about growth and its impact on the state's water supply. Firm CEO Mike Noble told the Review-Journal that the water question was not asked in the context of data centers.
How the parties split
Opposition to hyperscale data center development crossed party lines, the Review-Journal reported. It was opposed by 45 percent of Republicans, 56 percent of nonpartisan voters and 70 percent of Democrats. Based on those numbers, Noble said candidates of any party should take a middle-of-the-road approach. In a statement, he said, "Nevadans can't drink tax dollars if there isn't enough water to go around."
Why water is part of the debate
The Review-Journal noted that data centers, depending on their design, can require large amounts of power and water, raising concerns about noise, air pollution and more. Growth and water have long been linked in Nevada, and the Southern Nevada Water Authority is suing the federal government over its claim that it can force reductions of the state's Colorado River share by up to 71 percent. More background on the river is in our look at Nevada's Colorado River cut.
Clark County's cooling rules
Most poll respondents live in Clark County, where water managers have said new data centers are not a water issue. The water authority bans evaporative cooling, which pushes developers toward closed-loop or air-cooled systems. Officials told the Review-Journal the agency was created to be "growth-agnostic," so growth and responsible water management can coincide. Ongoing coverage is collected on our water page.
The rest of the state
Outside Clark County, there is no statewide ban on evaporative cooling, according to the Review-Journal. Water availability varies across Nevada, and more than half of the state's groundwater basins are considered overcommitted in terms of water rights.
Industry and environmental groups respond
Tray Abney, a spokesman for the Nevada Data Center Alliance, acknowledged the industry has a major public relations problem but argued that properly sited data centers help county and state economies, especially rural ones. "If you're going to have industrial buildings in your community, these are probably the cleanest, most tax-producing industrial buildings you could have," he told the Review-Journal.
Olivia Tanager, executive director of the Sierra Club Toiyabe chapter, said the poll shows voters across the political spectrum are rightfully worried about data centers and water. Both she and Abney said they expect data centers to be a key issue in the 2027 legislative session.
Where the governor candidates stand
Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo has issued an executive order directing staff to create a pledge that tech companies would sign, setting environmental standards they must meet to benefit from tax breaks. Attorney General Aaron Ford, the Democratic candidate for governor, has proposed a full pause and audit of data center tax breaks. Tanager's organization has supported Ford's plan. Voters can find key dates in our Clark County voting guide.
What to watch next
- The November election, which Tanager said will shape what lawmakers take up on data centers in 2027.
- The 2027 Nevada legislative session, where lawmakers are expected to revisit data center rules.
- A bill to be considered that proposes a full repeal of data center tax breaks and a statewide pause.
- The Southern Nevada Water Authority's lawsuit against the federal government over potential Colorado River reductions.
