HENDERSON (FOX5) — Henderson officials are considering a temporary moratorium on new data center applications as rapid growth fueled by artificial intelligence draws increasing public pushback in Southern Nevada and across the country.
The proposed pause would halt new applications for 180 days while the city reviews how data center projects should be regulated.
The moratorium would not affect existing facilities.
The debate comes as residents in nearby Boulder City continue to oppose a recently approved data center planned for land managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
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At a town hall hosted by the Sierra Club’s Toiyabe Chapter, organizers argued the proposed six-month timeline in Henderson is too short. They are pushing for at least a year, saying the city needs more time to work with stakeholders and write stronger regulations.
“They need to be held to the strongest standards as possible,” said Cullen McGinnis, an organizer with the Sierra Club’s Toiyabe Chapter. “It’s reckless for municipalities to approve data center projects without having these specific ordinances on the books.”
The Henderson City Council is expected to vote on the 180-day moratorium Tuesday, July 21, and could modify the proposal before it takes effect.
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