Aaron Ford Statement On Trump and Lombardo Being in Lockstep On Data Centers

In response to Donald Trump calling data centers “beautiful”, Attorney General Ford released the following statement:

“Donald Trump and Joe Lombardo, otherwise known as Nevada data centers’ biggest cheerleaders, have once again proven they only care about catering to their “billionaire friends” while Nevadans pay the price. There’s nothing ‘beautiful’ about the $200 million in tax breaks Joe Lombardo has given to data centers while receiving millions in campaign contributions from them. Under Lombardo and Trump, data centers will force Nevadans to pay higher utility costs and potentially deplete our electricity and fresh water supply.

“That’s why as Governor, I’m going to halt tax breaks for data centers until they keep their promises and pay up, and I’m not going to let them raise our costs or bills by even one cent. Trump and Lombardo want to turn Nevada into a playground for data centers, but I will put Nevadans first.”

BACKGROUND ON FORD’S PLAN:

• Pausing tax abatements: Ford will implement a pause on new tax abatements for data centers while his office audits the existing set of data center abatements to verify if these companies have delivered on their commitments. If a company has not been holding up its end of the bargain, Ford will not give it abatements in the future. If Ford determines that the data center abatement program is not benefiting working Nevadans, he will cancel it.

• No price hikes: Ford will make data centers pay for their own energy and stop raising our electric bills. Ford will also require data centers to make the electrical grid updates needed to deliver an increased total supply of energy to consumers.

• Create good union jobs: Ford will push data centers to create sustainable jobs, adhere to prevailing wage standards, and negotiate project-labor agreements with unions.

• Ensure transparency: Ford will track and publicize the amount of jobs, tax revenue, and economic activity created by every data center.

• Protecting water: Ford will not allow data centers to deplete Nevada’s supply of fresh water.

• Community input: Ford will require data center companies to be transparent with communities about how any given data center will impact them and the steps they’re taking to ensure that communities are not harmed. 

• Community benefits: Ford will work with local governments to support them in negotiating strong community benefits agreements with data center companies, including hire local requirements.

• Closing loopholes: Ford will oppose the Trump Administration’s attempts to circumvent Nevada’s data center labor, energy, and water guardrails by building  data centers on federal land.