FUROR has resulted over recent information concerning a New York Greencloud, “Global AI Infrastructure with a Carbon-Negative Footprint,” article which actually names Loyalton, CA under its, “Next sites.”
Complete with photo of the local plant, it gave the project overview which set in motion a series of phone calls, e.mails and Facebook postings.
This comes after NV Energy’s newly filed Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), with Nevada's Public Utilities Commission, a year early, after suddenly projecting it will need 47% more electricity than it forecast just two years ago, driven largely by major new customers (like data centers).
And a temporary pause was put on data centers after the Reno City Council voted recently in a special meeting to stop processing new applications.
According to IBM, “Building a data center often results in significantly increased local electricity demand - potentially raising resident utility rates - high water consumption for cooling, and persistent noise pollution from HVAC systems and generators. While promised economic benefits are often minimal, residents may face reduced local tax revenues, air pollution from backup diesel generators and increased infrastructure strain.”
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The following is from Brandon Pangman, Sierra County’s Planning Director/Building Official:
Planning & Building Staff:
If any of you get calls from people about a supposed “Data Center” going in at the cogen/mill site in Loyalton….please just calmly inform them that we are aware of this rumor going around online, and it is not true. There have been no permits issued; no applications received; and nothing will be built “under the radar”. Any such proposal would REQUIRE formal public hearings before the Planning Commission and/or Board of Supervisors---and they have complete discretion over any such proposal. But, again, no such project has actually been proposed.
“Until there’s an application, it’s just rumors.”
Complete with photo of the local plant, it gave the project overview which set in motion a series of phone calls, e.mails and Facebook postings.
This comes after NV Energy’s newly filed Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), with Nevada's Public Utilities Commission, a year early, after suddenly projecting it will need 47% more electricity than it forecast just two years ago, driven largely by major new customers (like data centers).
And a temporary pause was put on data centers after the Reno City Council voted recently in a special meeting to stop processing new applications.
According to IBM, “Building a data center often results in significantly increased local electricity demand - potentially raising resident utility rates - high water consumption for cooling, and persistent noise pollution from HVAC systems and generators. While promised economic benefits are often minimal, residents may face reduced local tax revenues, air pollution from backup diesel generators and increased infrastructure strain.”
* * * * *
The following is from Brandon Pangman, Sierra County’s Planning Director/Building Official:
Planning & Building Staff:
If any of you get calls from people about a supposed “Data Center” going in at the cogen/mill site in Loyalton….please just calmly inform them that we are aware of this rumor going around online, and it is not true. There have been no permits issued; no applications received; and nothing will be built “under the radar”. Any such proposal would REQUIRE formal public hearings before the Planning Commission and/or Board of Supervisors---and they have complete discretion over any such proposal. But, again, no such project has actually been proposed.
“Until there’s an application, it’s just rumors.”
