Nevada Governor backs data-center expansion after million-dollar AI donor contributions

Campaign finance filings show that the Better Nevada PAC received $1 million from AI investor Ben Horowitz and his wife Felicia, after which Governor Joe Lombardo publicly praised data centers for their economic benefits. Within ten days, the PAC reported an additional $1 million from Jessica Roy, spouse of Switch founder Rob Roy, a company constructing facilities in Nevada and benefiting from extensive tax abatements.

Since 2021, the state has allocated about $340 million in tax incentives to roughly 70 existing, under-construction or planned data-center sites, prompting concerns that the industry could triple energy demand and use water equivalent to 150,000 households. Local officials have begun imposing moratoriums, and Democratic opponent Attorney General Aaron Ford has attacked Lombardo’s support, linking it to the donations and filing a lawsuit over Colorado River water cuts. Lombardo, who also received $5 million from the Republican Governors Association, continues to champion the sector, describing it as a “new gold rush” while insisting guardrails will protect residents from higher utility costs.