Data Center

States are Struggling to Meet Their Clean Energy Goals. Data Centers are to Blame

States across the country are struggling to meet their clean energy goals due to the increase in demand.

Associated Press

Apr 14, 2026 — 4 min read

Photo of the exterior of a Google Data Center in Henderson, Nev. on April 2, 2026, by Ty ONeil/AP

LAS VEGAS, April 14, 2026 (AP) — Nevada's largest utility says it will need three times the electricity required to power Las Vegas just to handle proposed data centers — and it probably can't do that without fossil fuels.

That means the utility could miss Nevada's clean energy targets requiring 50% renewable power by 2030.

“I can’t remember a time in the history of the industry where we’ve seen as much interest in adding load, which is primarily driven by data centers,” said Shawn Elicegui, senior vice president of regulatory and resource planning for NV Energy, which provides electricity to 90% of the state.

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Data Center Nevada Shawn Elicegui NextEra Energy Olivia Tanager Sierra Club Dan Diorio Data Center Coalition Jason Hoffman xAI Google Howard Watts

FCC Says It Will Vote on Media Bureau Approval of Nexstar-TEGNA Merger Sometime 'This Year'

Agency tells D.C. Circuit the deal is under 'active consideration,' but wants the ‘typically deferential approach toward the management of its own limited resources’