Switch Proposes 510-Megawatt Gas Plant in Nevada
The proposed behind-the-meter facility aims to bypass grid connection queues and support expanded data center development.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Data Centers
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Switch recently disclosed plans for a 510-megawatt natural gas power plant at the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center in Northern Nevada. The facility is designed as a behind-the-meter project to bypass the standard utility connection queue for data center energy demands.
Why it matters
This project highlights the growing trend of large data center operators bypassing public grids to ensure power availability. As demand surges, such independent facilities are becoming a necessary mechanism to support the localized expansion of industrial computing clusters.
The proposed facility will utilize nine gas turbines across a 20-acre footprint to generate 510 megawatts of power. This infrastructure is intended to bypass utility grid queues, supporting data center operations that NV Energy forecasts will grow from 5 percent to 64 percent of total electricity sales by 2046.
The players
Switch
A developer and operator of high-capacity data centers that is increasingly shifting toward on-site, behind-the-meter power generation.
Public Utilities Commission of Nevada
The state regulatory agency responsible for overseeing energy utilities and approving new power generation projects in Nevada.
NV Energy
The primary utility provider managing the regional grid, which anticipates significant increases in electricity demand from industrial data centers.
Nexus Fulcrum LLC
A development entity that filed the initial project proposal with state regulators on behalf of the energy facility.
Fleet Data Centers
A data center operator that recently secured approval for two natural gas power plants in the region.
The details
The facility functions as a behind-the-meter power generating station, meaning it generates electricity on-site to supply private demand directly, rather than routing through the regional grid infrastructure. This bypasses the utility connection queue, a process where new projects wait for grid capacity allocations. The plant is planned for the former Sierra Biofuels Refinery site and is projected to consume 47 million gallons of water annually during its operational life cycle.
Timeline
June 2026: Initial project filing by Nexus Fulcrum LLC.
September 2026: Public Utilities Commission approved two Fleet Data Centers gas plants.
October 2026: Switch disclosed ownership of the proposed plant.
First quarter 2027: Planned construction start date.
2029: Planned construction completion date.
The Tech Race
The plant represents a significant move to secure independent energy in a region where data centers are rapidly overtaking existing electrical capacity. This effort places Switch in direct competition for limited utility resources, following the precedent set by the 362 MW of capacity recently approved for Fleet Data Centers.
The project will initiate construction in early 2027, with a two-year timeline to operational status. While the facility is private, it significantly alters the resource landscape in the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center by committing 47 million gallons of water annually during operations.
The takeaway
This facility marks a shift toward private energy independence for industrial computing sites in Nevada. Monitor the Public Utilities Commission proceedings to see if this model becomes the standard for meeting power demands in the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center.
Further reading
For broader context on energy infrastructure, explore our coverage of Data Centers.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Las Vegas Review-Journal.
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