U.S. Rep. Dina Titus asks Governor Joe Lombardo for Moratorium on Tax Abatements for Data Centers on Federal Land

Congresswoman Dina Titus sent a letter to Governor Joe Lombardo today asking him to halt state tax abatements for data center projects on federal land until the 2027 Nevada Legislature has had an opportunity to review the issue.

Congresswoman Titus cited the proposed data center on federal land adjacent to Boulder City and concerns raised by residents about its effects on the region's water supply and other environmental issues when the project was first proposed on city land. The developers of the project then moved it to nearby Bureau of Land Management land where they previously had proposed a solar farm.

"I am concerned that BLM approved Townsite Solar 2, LLC's application to amend its ROW grant, without community input or adequate environmental analysis," Congresswoman Titus said in the letter. "This is despite the fact that when the data center was proposed on an adjacent parcel owned by Boulder City, residents raised significant concerns about the potential impact of the project on our already dwindling water resources, extreme heat, and grid resilience, among other environmental concerns."

Congresswoman Titus's letter states:

Given the community concern and issues raised in this letter, I respectfully request answers to the following questions by August 10, 2026:

1. Have you or anyone in your Administration had conversations with Townsite Solar 2, LLC about their proposed project in Boulder City qualifying for the State data center tax abatement?
   
   
2. Since the ROW grant has been revised to allow the construction of a data center, is it your position that Townsite Solar, LLC is still eligible for the State renewable tax abatements that your Administration previously approved?
   
   
3. As Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED), will you commit to refraining from approving data center tax rebates for projects on BLM land until the State Legislature reconvenes and has an opportunity to reconsider this issue, given the community concern around the Boulder City project and the precedent this would set for other public lands?
   
4. Do you agree that the regulatory approval process for any proposed projects to build data centers on public lands will be transparent and subject to robust public input?