There is growing backlash in Southern Nevada over the strain of AI data centers on the region’s resources.
According to Newsweek, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation data from May 27 said Lake Mead was only about 30% full. As drought continues to pressure the Colorado River system, residents and lawmakers are taking a closer look at the water and electricity needed to support the AI boom.
What’s happening?
In Las Vegas, where several major data centers already operate near Lake Mead—including Google’s facility in Henderson and Switch’s The Core Campus—debate is intensifying.
The scrutiny comes as the United States is now home to more than 4,300 data centers nationwide, with 70 of them in Nevada, according to Data Center Map…