Yerington NV – November 24, 2025
The planned Monarch Data Center is a massive campus expected to have a total power capacity of 1,000 MW (megawatts) upon full build-out.
The development, led by Copia Power (with backing from Carlyle), is planned for a 505-acre site in Mason, Nevada. The project will be built in phases, with the initial phase expected to support 150 MW of load.
The full project is set to include:
- 14 separate data center buildings (each the approximate size of a Walmart store)
- Battery energy storage systems (BESS) lithium ion
- A natural gas backup energy generation system with a capacity of up to 500 MW
- An electrical substation and a high voltage power system
Copia Power’s portfolio indicates that the Monarch project also includes planned on-site power generation with 200 MW of PV (solar) capacity and 500 MW of storage capacity.
On July 8, 2025, the Lyon County Planning Committee voted unanimously to recommend https://www.lyon-county.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07082025-1855:
Discussion begins at 33:55 :
On August 7, 2025 at a Board of County Commissioner meeting Copia Power DevCo, LLC presented it’s application to change 505 acres FROM Rural Residential 20 acre lot minimum/Agriculture TO “Specific Plan” Zoning for their proposed Monarch Data Center. Thirteen members of the public spoke at the meeting AGAINST the Master Plan Rezoning and four members of the public spoke FOR the Master Plan Rezoning. The Board of County Commissioners chose to table the request to a future date. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uBXZEsM2xg&t=35s (begins at 1:40:58)
Approximate yearly tax revenue of $562,000 from Monarch Data Center would be shared/divided county-wide at roughly $200,000 to the school district and $362,000 to other county entities. Initially a large number of construction personnel would be required for construction; then permanent, full time positions would be required for maintenance & oversight.
Opponents expressed concerns regarding Battery Storage/Thermal Runaway (for example in Boulder City NV and Moss Landing CA); negative environmental impacts on agriculture, water, wells, air and soil; changing Master Plan for Special Project in a residential zoned area with impacts to current home owners; failure to consult local and down-river tribal entities; etc.
Proponents for Rezoning the Lyon County Master Plan from 20 acre Residential to ‘Specific’ stated that the Data Center would benefit the economics of the community and generate growth; provide permanent jobs; etc.
Staffing by data center size
- Small facilities (1–5 MW): 8–15 operational staff
- Medium facilities (5–20 MW): 15–35 operational staff
- Large facilities (20 MW+): 35+ operational staff, though hyperscale centers may use fewer staff per megawatt due to automation
Other factors influencing staffing
- Construction phase: A large data center can require thousands of workers, including construction crews, equipment operators, electricians, and technicians, for the build-out.
- Operational phase: A typical large data center may have around 50 or more full-time employees for steady-state operations. This includes roles like facility managers, engineers, technicians, and maintenance staff.
- Automation: Many modern data centers are highly automated, allowing a smaller workforce to manage large facilities.
- Facility type: The specific business model (e.g., colocation, hyperscale) and the specific services provided can also influence staffing needs. For example, a barebones colocation facility might have a smaller core staff and bring in additional personnel as needed for specific customer requests.
Related articles:
https://stpp.fordschool.umich.edu/sites/stpp/files/2025-07/stpp-data-centers-2025.pdf
Lyon County Planning Board per website on 11.24.25 https://www.lyon-county.org/299/Planning-Commission:
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