Nye County Approves 800-Acre Sarcobatus Solar Project Powering On-Site Data Center

Nye County commissioners granted preliminary approval for the Sarcobatus Solar project, an 800-acre solar installation proposed by TeslaSolar, LLC, that will power an on-site distributed data processing center rather than export electricity to the regional grid. The property sits about 30 miles north of Beatty on the northeast side of U.S. 95 at Scotty’s Junction, and county planners required a Special Use Permit and a preliminary plan of development before the project could proceed.

“This is a request for a Special Use Permit to allow for a proposed 244-megawatt solar energy facility,” Nye County Principal Planner Qiana Medici detailed for the board at its Jan. 21 meeting. Medici said each array will have an adjacent, 100-square foot, prefabricated metal equipment shed to house on-site data processing servers and energy storage systems. The application describes small arrays using ballast boxes that sit on the ground, no permanent substation or large storage yards, and a small office and maintenance shed near the project entrance.

Project permit lead Tom Smith told the commission that the installation will operate in an unusual configuration. “Our project is a little bit unusual in that, we are not connected to the grid. We use all the power right on site and it’s used for data processing. So, the only connection to the outside world is via the internet. Nothing goes to California, everything stays within Nye County,” Smith said, adding that each array’s equipment shed will contain processors and batteries to provide continuous operation.

Some residents raised questions about where the power would ultimately end up and whether the absence of a substation would affect local infrastructure. Project representatives also addressed community concerns about nighttime lighting, glare for motorists on U.S. 95, dust mitigation during construction, and long-term water use. The applicant provided a visibility study for glare and pledged compliance with county dark-sky rules, and officials characterized water needs as minimal.

Commission Chair Ron Boskovich observed that the site appeared appropriate, and Commissioner Debra Strickland moved to approve the Special Use Permit and preliminary development plan; the motion passed 4-0. Commissioner Bruce Jabbour recused himself from the vote because of a business relationship with the property owners.

For Nye County residents, the project presents a mix of local benefits and questions. The facility’s on-site data processing model keeps generated electricity and the associated activity inside the county, which could mean tax revenue and local construction jobs without exporting energy to neighboring states. At the same time, travelers on U.S. 95, nearby landowners, and water users will be watching mitigation measures and any construction traffic plans closely.

With preliminary approval now in hand, the Sarcobatus Solar proposal will move into the permitting and development stages required by county planning. Residents should expect follow-up notices from county planners as final permits, construction timelines, and monitoring requirements are established.