In Nevada’s gubernatorial race, incumbent Governor Joe Lombardo and Attorney General Aaron Ford have exchanged attack ads for weeks. The Committee to Elect Aaron Ford recently aired two spots, titled “Wholeheartedly” and “Build,” that focus on Lombardo’s stance toward data centers. We examined the ads against publicly available information to determine their accuracy.
Claim 1 – Data Centers Are Raising Nevada’s Costs
The “Wholeheartedly” ad opens with Ford saying, “Data centers are raising our costs.” This assertion is false. Nevada’s largest utility, NV Energy, has confirmed that data centers pay for their own electricity and are currently negotiating agreements to cover the additional demand they place on the grid. In an email, NV Energy noted it has received service requests totaling roughly 22,000 megawatts of new demand—about three times the state’s 2025 peak electric demand of 8,500 megawatts. While the surge in demand does increase strain on the grid, the utility’s policy is to have data centers shoulder the cost of any needed infrastructure upgrades, not to pass those costs onto ratepayers.
Similarly, the Truckee Meadows Water Authority has stated that data centers are responsible for their own water usage, further limiting any direct cost impact on Nevada residents.
Claim 2 – Lombardo Is “Wholeheartedly” in Support of Data Centers
The ad includes a short clip of Lombardo saying, “I am wholeheartedly in support of data centers.” This is true. Lombardo made the remark during a one‑on‑one interview with 2 News Nevada in May and has repeatedly visited data‑center groundbreaking ceremonies. He has publicly noted that data centers do not impose a huge draw on Nevada’s resources. However, Lombardo also signed an executive order establishing stronger guardrails for new data‑center projects, reflecting a balanced approach that encourages growth while protecting the state’s infrastructure.
Claim 3 – Lombardo Has Taken Millions From Data Centers
Ford’s ad states, “Now Joe Lombardo has taken millions of dollars from data centers.” This is misleading. The political action committee Better Nevada, which supports Lombardo, received $2 million in contributions from individuals linked to the data‑center industry. The donations came from Jessica Roy (wife of Switch founder Rob Roy), who gave $1 million, and from Benjamin and Felicia Horowitz, who contributed the remaining $1 million. While the contributions are sizable, they represent donations to a supportive PAC, not direct payments to the governor himself.
Claim 4 – Lombardo Handed Over $200 Million in Tax Dollars to Data Centers
The “Build” ad alleges Lombardo “handed them (data centers) over 200 million of your tax dollars.” This claim is also misleading. From 2023 to 2024, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development awarded approximately $233 million in tax incentives to data‑center projects. The incentive program, originally enacted by a 2015 bill co‑sponsored by Ford, required the Governor’s Office to grant tax breaks when projects met specific criteria. A new law passed last year now gives the GOED board greater flexibility in awarding such incentives, but the funds were allocated under the existing statutory framework, not as a unilateral handout by the governor.
Overall Assessment
Both ads contain a mix of accurate statements and misleading or false claims. While Lombardo’s support for data centers is genuine, the ads overstate the financial burden on taxpayers and mischaracterize campaign contributions as personal gains. Voters should consider the full context of utility policies, legislative history, and the governor’s recent executive actions when evaluating these advertisements.
Original reporting: 2news.com — read the source article.
