The Reno City Council overturned a Reno Planning Commission denial after it was appealed during Council’s meeting on March 12th for an Oppidan Data Center.
Salas O’Brien is the architect of record, while Stantec is serving as the engineer and landscape architect. Oppidan is the owner of the project. Another Oppidan data center is currently being planned in Clark County.
The Planning Commission denied the proposal partially due to wanting to further research on the long-term effects of data centers. The Council then considered adding data center regulations to its City Code, but a tie vote resulted in no change.
The Commission was also concerned the data center would be too resource intensive for the area. The Oppidan Data Center received approval from both NV Energy and the Truckee Meadows Water Authority.
Despite this, some councilmembers have concerns the data center will result in higher power costs for residents. A substation for the data center is a part of the plans. The 61.6KSF data center is to be constructed on a seven-acre site near North Virginia Street.
Council members were in support of the project as it has low water requirements relative to data centers and developers are attempting to work with locals. Due to concerns, plans have changed to include some renewable energy sources and alter the fencing around the property. (Source)