‘Unprecedented’: Data centres want to triple Nevada’s energy grid capacity

Summary

Nevada utilities and industry leaders warned at a Las Vegas panel that incoming data centre demand could require roughly three times the state’s current peak grid capacity. NV Energy’s peak sits at about 9,000 MW during heat waves, and tech firms have requested an additional 21,000–22,000 MW. NV Energy has so far committed to 3,000–4,000 MW while trying to protect existing customers from outages and steep bill rises.

Officials flagged recent investments — notably the Greenlink West and North transmission lines that will unlock about 5,000 MW of renewables — and said many data centre developers are being asked to help fund new generation. Water is an equally critical constraint: Southern Nevada banned new evaporative cooling permits after 2023, and data centres in the region consumed an estimated 716 million gallons of consumptive water in 2024.

Key Points

Data centre proposals seek roughly 21,000–22,000 MW of new capacity versus NV Energy’s ~9,000 MW peak demand.
NV Energy has committed about 3,000–4,000 MW so far and must balance new load with reliability and customer bills.
Greenlink transmission lines will enable roughly 5,000 MW of renewable projects, helping meet some demand.
Regulators approved spreading some transmission costs to Southern Nevada customers — roughly a $2.18–$2.21 monthly increase.
Water limits are a major restraint: a regional moratorium on evaporative cooling has been in effect since permits stopped being accepted in Sept 2023.
Southern Nevada data centres used an estimated 716 million gallons of consumptive water in 2024, intensifying Lake Mead concerns.
Conversations continue between utilities, regulators and tech firms about cost allocation, new generation and water-use trade-offs.

Why should I read this?

Because if you live, work or do business in Nevada this affects your lights, your water and quite possibly your bills — and it isn’t going away. The story explains who pays, where new power might come from and why water rules are already shaping which projects can be built. Short version: big tech wants big power and Nevada’s scrambling to make it fit without breaking the rest of the grid.