Lyon County Commissioners Approve Rezoning for Proposed Monarch Data Center (Video attached)

Yerington NV – August 7, 2026

After hours of discussion and public comment, the Lyon County Board of Commissioners voted Thursday (August 6, 2026) to approve a zoning change requested by Copia Power for its proposed Monarch Data Center project in Mason Valley.

The vote was 3-1, with Commissioner Dave Hockaday casting the only opposing vote. Commissioner John Cassinelli recused himself from the matter prior to the vote because of a conflict of interest.

Commissioners Scott Keller, Tammy Hendrix and Robert Jacobson voted in favor of the request, with Hendrix making the motion and Jacobson seconding it.

The decision changes approximately 505 acres from Rural Residential zoning to Planned Unit Development (PUD), clearing the way for the next stages of planning and permitting for the proposed project.

The Monarch Data Center, located just north of Yerington, is being proposed by Copia Power. According to project information presented by the company, the development is expected to include a large data center campus, battery energy storage, natural-gas-fired generation, an electrical substation, high-voltage transmission infrastructure and related facilities.

At full buildout, the project is expected to require approximately 1,000 megawatts of power. Water use has been estimated at approximately 800 acre-feet annually in the Mason Valley area.

A Closely Watched Decision

The rezoning request has been one of the most closely watched development proposals in the area, drawing significant public attention over the past year.

More than 300 people were reported to have attended Thursday’s meeting in-person & by Zoom link, with residents and other members of the public speaking both in support of (@ 25%) and opposition to (@75%) the project.

Opponents have raised concerns about the project’s potential effects on water resources, agriculture, infrastructure, power demand, public safety and the long-term character of Mason Valley, with specific concern about residents neighboring the proposed Monarch Data Center Site.

Environmental organizations including the Sierra Club, along with dozens of people from the Walker River Paiute Tribe and Yerington Paiute Tribe, have also expressed concerns about the proposed development.

On July 14, 2026, he Lyon County Planning Commission voted 4-3 to recommend advancing the proposal to the Board of Commissioners.

Tensions During the Meeting

The lengthy meeting was also marked by tension among some members of the public.

One person, identified as 66-year-old James St. Angelo, who lives near the proposed data center site, was reportedly arrested outside the meeting following an incident involving a door and an apparent assault allegation. Details surrounding the incident and any resulting charges were not immediately available.

The incident occurred as the meeting was underway and should be considered separately from the county’s land-use decision.

What Happens Next?

The rezoning approval does not mean the Monarch Data Center is immediately ready for construction.

Copia Power now has one year to complete additional planning and obtain the various permits and approvals required for the project.

Those future steps are expected to address numerous aspects of the proposed development, including infrastructure, water, power, public safety, environmental considerations and other regulatory requirements.

(Copia Power is owned by global investment firm Carlyle Group. On July 9, 2026, Carlyle Group agreed to sell its U.S. power & artificial intelligence infrastructure platform, Copia Power, to Swedish private equity group EQT. The transaction values Copia at $2.6 billion, yielding Carlyle a more than fivefold return on its five-year investment.)

For many residents, Thursday’s vote represents more than a single zoning decision. It is part of a much larger conversation about the pace and scale of development occurring throughout Mason Valley.

Residents have attended planning and county commission meetings over the past year as projects involving solar generation, battery energy storage, transmission infrastructure and other large-scale development have come before the county.

Among the projects discussed or approved in the region are Lux Solar, Winston Solar, Pinenut Battery Energy Storage System and Libra Solar, along with NV Energy’s Greenlink transmission project, which includes significant electrical infrastructure in the Mason Valley area.

Supporters of these projects point to potential investment, economic development, energy infrastructure and new opportunities for the region. Opponents have questioned whether the cumulative impact of multiple large-scale projects is consistent with the valley’s existing water resources, agricultural economy, infrastructure and rural character.

The Monarch Data Center decision is therefore likely to remain a subject of discussion in Mason Valley as the project moves into its next phase.

The Pizen Switch Times will continue following the project and reviewing the conditions attached to the rezoning approval, as well as future applications and permitting decisions involving water, power, infrastructure, public safety, transparency and long-term community impacts.

For previous coverage of the proposed Monarch Data Center, see the Pizen Switch Times archive:

https://pizenswitchtimes.com/?s=Monarch+Data+Center

Complete video record of 8.6.2026 Lyon County Board of Commissioners meeting: