By Robin Hebrock Pahrump Valley Times

August 19, 2026 - 5:40 pm

The Nye County Commission voted Tuesday to ban data centers in the Pahrump Valley and Basin 162.

The decision followed a commission meeting that drew hundreds of people and included more than two hours of public comment despite a two-minute time limit per speaker.

“What I propose is, you all vote to ban data centers, outright, today,” Teresa Redl told the commissioners. “Everyone I know is absolutely frantic — we are all losing our minds. It’s been really rough on everybody here. You guys can end this today by voting to ban.”

Three items related to data centers on the agenda were combined into one discussion, including the ban, a possible special election to allow voters to decide whether to impose one and an item to set a public hearing on a bill proposing regulations.

There were varied opinions on each item, but overall, most attendees made it clear they supported a complete prohibition.

“If you do ban, I doubt there will be an uprising of people who favor data centers, to the extent that you are seeing those of us who say, ‘No,’” Susie Hertz asserted.

Commissioner Ian Bayne clarified that he would amend the proposed ban so that it would apply only to the Pahrump Valley and Basin 162, the Pahrump Valley groundwater basin, leaving out the rest of the county.

Commissioner Bruce Jabbour said he would appreciate having the ban limited to Pahrump, as other communities in the county may be interested in having data centers.

Bayne made the motion to adopt Nye County Bill No. 2026-11, which amends Nye County Code Title 17 to prohibit data center development in the Pahrump Valley. The motion passed 5-0.

Commissioner John Koenig then made a motion to set a public hearing for Nye County Bill No. 2026-14, a bill proposing to amend Title 17 by establishing land use regulations, special use permitting requirements and development standards for data centers throughout the rest of the county. That motion passed 4-1.

No motion was forthcoming on the proposal for a special election, and that item ultimately died.

Contact reporter Robin Hebrock at rhebrock@pvtimes.com