What do Nevada's congressional candidates think about data centers?

This summer, a dispute engulfed Boulder City after the federal government — seemingly out of nowhere — approved using federal land near the Southern Nevada community for a data center.

It led to public outrage, letters from the region's members of Congress to the governor and U.S. Bureau of Land Management and city officials challenging the feds' approval. 

The clash raised a big question unique to a state where more than 80 percent of land is owned by the federal government: What should the federal government's role be when it comes to data centers?

This was one of several questions — including their thoughts on tax abatements, a federal moratorium and using federal land for data centers — that The Indy posed to the eight major party candidates running for Congress in Nevada. The responses reveal the unique way that data centers are shaping the federal races.

Candidates expressed some different positions. Some Democrats were more open to changing laws on energy and water use — a topic of particular concern because the developments sometimes use considerable resources — while Republicans think federal regulation should ensure that the U.S. is able to compete with China, another prominent talking point amid fears that without building enough data centers domestically, the U.S. will cede control of the AI infrastructure industry. 

But there were also agreements across the political spectrum. Almost all candidates opposed a blanket federal pause on data center development with the exception of Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV), who kept the door open to supporting a moratorium in the future.

Most candidates also want to ensure that data center development does not increase Nevadans' utility costs.

And when asked whether federal land can be used for data centers, they all essentially had the same answer: Yes, but there should be buy-in from the local community.

"Full environmental permitting process with consideration for water and also public consultation and hearings," Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV), who represents Boulder City, said in an interview about what the process should look like.

It underscores how positions on data centers have sometimes transcended party lines, a rarity in modern American politics. There are 76 data centers built or planned in Nevada, according to the online tracker Data Center Map. Many local governments are also hitting pause on approving data centers and reviewing their regulations.

"This is a very populist issue right now," UNLV political science professor David Damore said. "A politician not in tune with that is potentially going to do them some harm come November."

At the same time, the responses also reflect how candidates in the two major parties are wary of addressing the topic at the federal level because approving specific data center projects often falls to local governments.

For example, in the open race for Congressional District 2 — the state's only Republican-held seat — there was a rare sense of agreement among the two major party candidates.

Asked about the role the feds should play on data centers, former Assm. Teresa Benitez-Thompson (D-Reno) said she doesn't want actions at the federal level to prevent state or local governments from also taking action. In response to the same question, retired Lt. Col. David Flippo (R) said "the best decisions are made at the most local level possible."

Damore added that by kicking the issue to local governments, "it takes the issue" off of candidates' plates.

See below for a closer look at the candidates' positions.

Resource issues

Democrats were more likely to push for changes at the federal level on issues such as water and energy use.

Horsford took the most sweeping position. He said the federal government should set standards requiring companies to disclose their energy and water use, and requirements over the new infrastructure is needed to fulfill electricity needs. He added that states should be allowed to "go further."

"That distinction matters for Nevada," he said in a written response. "Water is our most precious resource, and a national standard should act as a floor we can build on, never a ceiling that locks us into weaker protections than a state like ours actually needs."

His two Southern Nevada colleagues — Titus and Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV) — were also open to changes at the federal level, but on a smaller scale.

Lee said in an interview that there should be disclosure requirements on water consumption and potentially energy efficiency standards, while Titus thinks the federal government "needs to step in" if data centers are seeking to tap into nuclear energy. However, she thinks other environmental topics, such as water, should not fall to the federal government.

Some Republican candidates also said they want to protect Nevada's resources but had fewer specific proposals.

Cody Whipple (R), who is running against Horsford, said in a written response that he supports "common-sense frameworks that safeguard Nevada's natural resources while fostering technological innovation." His campaign later clarified that he wants to bring together local water, agricultural and technology officials to inform federal standards on natural resources.

Marty O'Donnell (R), the composer of the Halo video game series who is challenging Lee, also said that he "would support legislation that ensures local communities aren't affected by development." He added that he would support disclosure requirements of water usage — similar to Lee.

State Sen. Carrie Buck (R-Henderson), who is running against Titus in Congressional District 1, said Congress' role should focus on increasing energy production.

National security

Republicans were more likely to focus their oversight efforts to protect national security.

Flippo, the Republican candidate for the open 2nd Congressional District seat, said the federal government should play a limited role. But if there is any reason to become involved, it would be to protect national security interests.

In a recording obtained by The Nevada Independent of a closed-door campaign event in August, Whipple also said that data centers are a "national security issue for us," and "I want those servers right here in the United States." He also voiced support for a bipartisan Senate proposal to stop federal entities from using certain AI tools tied to foreign countries.

Also in a recording obtained by The Indy from the same event, Buck said that "not one of us wants our data going to China and coming back to us." She added in a written statement that the feds should "make it easier to build the energy and infrastructure America needs to lead in AI."

Damore, the UNLV political science professor, added that the focus on national security could be a way for candidates to "couch your support — to the degree that you're going to support it."

Horsford was the only Democrat to mention national security as a factor in federal data center policymaking. He said it is an important area to consider, but that "data security's importance is an argument for doing it right, not an excuse for doing it recklessly."