Proposals for a data center in Reno, Nevada, are being challenged by the Sierra Club.
As reported by Nevada Current and others, the Sierra Club’s Toiyabe chapter has filed an appeal against the approval of the Webb Data Center by the Reno Planning Commission on December 18.
The Sierra Club is an environmental preservation organization with chapters in all 50 states.
The commission voted 4-2 for recommending proposals from Ellis Partners for an 82,000-square-foot (7,620 sqm) data center on a six-acre site along North Virginia Street east of its intersection with Stead Boulevard. The project was first brought before the commission in March 2024 as a warehouse development.
NV Energy’s Peavine substation would be ready to serve the project’s first phase by late 2026, with a second phase coming online in 2029. A 4,000-square-foot (370 sqm) solar array on the building’s roof is also planned.
The planning commission approved a conditional use permit for the Webb Data Center using ordinances established in January 2024 through what is known as “an administration interpretation/decision” — something allowed and common practice when existing ordinances don’t address an emerging type of development.
“We are demanding that Reno public officials adhere to the highest standard of ethical behavior and public transparency,” Olivia Tanager, director of Sierra Club’s Toiyabe Chapter said in a statement. “The approval of the Webb data center was mired in controversy, violations of open meeting law, and strategic withholding of information. We are asking for the city to cease approval of all data centers and associated permits until there is clear guidance in Reno code regulating data centers. These facilities are extraordinarily demanding on our energy and water resources, and Reno residents will be adversely impacted if these centers aren’t rolled out with the highest level of caution and scrutiny.”
Reno City Council will hold a hearing on the appeal on January 22.
Local reports on the project noted that Doug Thornley, formerly Reno’s city manager until last year, is now with the legal firm representing Ellis Partners – which has raised ethical concerns. During the planning commission meeting, Thornley had some off-the-record asides with commissioners – the meeting was described by one witness as intimidating and “schoolyard bullying.”
Reno is looking to introduce specific data center ordinances, as opposed to relying on the city’s existing warehouse ordinances. The Sierra Club is asking the city to not approve any data centers until there is a dedicated ordinance on the books.
Ellis Partners is a California-based real estate development firm. The company has previously leased a site to liquid-cooled data center operator Colovore. Colovore recently announced plans to expand into Reno – it’s unclear if the Webb project is related.
