NEW: Aaron Ford Announces Plan To Pause Tax Breaks For Data Centers

Today, Attorney General Aaron Ford announced that as Governor, he will stop tax abatements for data centers until they prove in an audit conducted by Ford’s GOED that they are making good on their commitments to Nevada. The plan is part of Ford’s newly-released data center accountability agenda, which centers around stopping data centers from raising Nevadans’ electricity bills and other utility costs and protecting Nevadans and our resources.

“When I’m Governor, Joe Lombardo’s gravy train for data centers is coming to an end. I’m going to implement some of the strictest rules in America: data centers will need to bring their own water or coolant, pay for their own electricity so ratepayers’ bills don’t go up, and actually deliver the sustainable high-paying jobs and tax revenue they’ve promised.” said Attorney General Aaron Ford. “Joe Lombardo says he’s ‘wholeheartedly in support of data centers.’ I, on the other hand, will be a Governor who is wholeheartedly supportive of Nevadans – and that means making data centers pay up.”

Joe Lombardo has been the #1 cheerleader in Nevada for data centers instead of looking out for Nevadans’ interest. Under Lombardo, over 70 data centers have come into Nevada, with little to no actual proof they’ve delivered on creating tax revenue, sustainable jobs, or economic investment. Lombardo has given data centers $200 million in Nevadans’ tax dollars while failing to verify any benefits to Nevadans. Not only that – Lombardo has taken close to $2 million dollars in campaign contributions from the data center companies seeking to send Nevadans’ costs soaring. Despite the outrage Nevadans have voiced over the data center buildout, Lombardo holds up the current status quo as a “model”. 

“Data centers should be giving us good union jobs that hire Nevadans, but we need standards and oversight to make that happen,” said Jacob Haas, Business Manager at IBEW Local 401. “Attorney General Ford has always been a partner to working people, and we know that he’s the leader who will ensure that data centers pay their fair share while building up our economy.”

Attorney General Ford is launching his data center agenda after having completed his second statewide tour of Nevada, where he engaged with communities in every corner of the state about their fears around data centers and what they need from their next Governor. In communities including Reno, Mesquite, Elko, Boulder City, Douglas, Carson City and Pahrump, Nevadans shared their concerns about data centers raising their electricity bills, draining their energy and fresh water supply, and failing to create the good jobs that were promised. Ford’s data center agenda, which is built around the concerns he heard about from Nevadans, also stipulates that he will make the data center companies bring their own water, pay for their own electricity, create sustainable, high-road jobs, hire local, and work with unions and communities to ensure that working people are in the driver’s seat, not getting left behind.

“I support Attorney General Ford’s plan to pause tax abatements for data centers and to create statewide bans on evaporative cooling,” said Washoe County Commissioner Alexis Hill. “Gov. Lombardo is handing over our state’s precious water and energy resources to his biggest donors. Nevadans must come together to vote for Ford and other Democrats who will guarantee transparency and center local community needs.”

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