Election 2026

Independent, source-first accountability

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Issue record

Power bills and data centers

In short

Aaron Ford's campaign wants data centers to bring their own clean energy and water, with no new tax breaks until they deliver. Danielle Ford's campaign wants guardrails on AI, data centers, water and energy. Joseph Lombardo's campaign says data centers should not raise power rates, with tax breaks tied to power, water and jobs. Aaron Ford co-led the 2015 data center tax break law; his office lost an NV Energy case he plans to appeal.

Campaign positions

What each campaign says.

Aaron D. Ford

Data centers should bring their own clean energy, grid upgrades and water, and get no new tax breaks until they keep their promises.

Danielle Ford

Says Nevada needs guardrails on AI and technology, including data centers, water and energy.

Joseph Lombardo

No Nevada home or business should see power rates rise to pay for data centers. Every tax break, data centers' included, should be tied to goals on power, water and local jobs.

Evidence timeline

What the record shows.

  1. official action

    Aaron D. Ford: Matches stated record claim

    His office challenged the charge in court and lost in May 2026, when a Clark County judge did not find it unlawful; he says he will appeal.

    Read the full check

    Full detail

    His campaign says he fought NV Energy's mandatory demand charge, which it calls unlawful. His consumer protection office challenged the charge and took it to court. On May 26, 2026, a Clark County judge ruled against his office, and he said he would appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court. Limit: He has lost so far: the judge did not find the charge unlawful. He says he will appeal.

  2. campaign position

    Aaron D. Ford: Not comparable yet

    In 2015 he co-led and voted for the law that created the data center tax break, with job, wage and investment conditions; his 2026 plan asks for stricter terms.

    Read the full check

    Full detail

    His campaign says data centers should get no new tax breaks until they prove they are keeping their side of the deal, and that he will re-examine the breaks they get now. In 2015, as a state senator, he was one of six lead sponsors of Senate Bill 170, which created a partial tax break for new or expanding data centers. He voted for it; the Senate passed it 21 to 0, and it became law on June 9, 2015. The break is still in state law. It came with conditions: at least 10 Nevada employees, at least the statewide average wage, and at least $25 million invested, and a data center that stops meeting them has to repay the break. Limit: The law is from 2015; his plan is from his 2026 campaign. The plan asks for stricter terms on these breaks, not an end to them.

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Sources12 source records

How we use sources

  1. Issueshttps://www.fordfornevada.com/issues

    Committee to Elect Aaron Ford · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Summary of his six issue pages.

    candidate statement

    For: Aaron D. Ford: campaign position; Aaron D. Ford: Not comparable yet

  2. Danielle Fordhttps://ballotpedia.org/Danielle_Ford

    Ballotpedia · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Carries her own answers to Ballotpedia's 2026 candidate survey. Also lists her campaign website and her campaign Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube accounts.

    candidate statement

    For: Danielle Ford: campaign position

  3. Governor Lombardo's visionhttps://www.endorse.joelombardofornv.com/vision/

    Lombardo for Governor · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Platform page, signed 'Paid For By Lombardo for Governor'.

    candidate statement

    For: Joseph Lombardo: campaign position

  4. Energy planhttps://www.fordfornevada.com/issues/energy

    Committee to Elect Aaron Ford · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Campaign issue page.

    candidate statement

    For: Aaron D. Ford: Matches stated record claim

  5. Attorney General Ford issues statement on decision in NV Energy demand charge litigationhttps://ag.nv.gov/News/PR/2026/Attorney_General_Ford_Issues_Statement_on_Decision_in_NV_Energy_Demand_Charge_Litigation/

    Office of the Nevada Attorney General · Published May 26, 2026 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Says the court 'got it wrong' and that he will appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court.

    official office record

    For: Aaron D. Ford: Matches stated record claim

  6. Judge denies attorney general's petition to stop NV Energy's daily demand chargehttps://thenevadaindependent.com/article/judge-denies-attorney-generals-petition-to-stop-nv-energys-daily-demand-charge

    The Nevada Independent · Published May 26, 2026 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Report of the Clark County District Court ruling against the attorney general's consumer protection office.

    original reporting

    For: Aaron D. Ford: Matches stated record claim

  7. Economic development planhttps://www.fordfornevada.com/issues/economic-development

    Committee to Elect Aaron Ford · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Campaign issue page.

    candidate statement

    For: Aaron D. Ford: Not comparable yet

  8. SB 170 (2015), data center tax breakshttps://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/78th2015/Bill/FillSelectedBillTab?selectedTab=Overview&billKey=1539

    Nevada Legislature · Published Jun 9, 2015 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Bill history: a partial tax break for new or expanding data centers. Primary sponsors Senators Roberson, Ford, Lipparelli and Harris and Assembly members Kirkpatrick and Hambrick. Approved by the Governor June 9, 2015, Chapter 498.

    official legislative record

    For: Aaron D. Ford: Not comparable yet

  9. SB 170 (2015), enrolled text (document)

    Nevada Legislature · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The version sent to the governor. Its first line names Senators Roberson, Ford, Lipparelli and Harris.

    official legislative record

    For: Aaron D. Ford: Not comparable yet

  10. SB 170 (2015), Senate yes votes on final passagehttps://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/78th2015/Bill/GetBillVoteMembers?voteKey=1508&voteResultPanel=Yea

    Nevada Legislature · Published Apr 8, 2015 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The 21 senators who voted yes on April 8, 2015 (21 to 0). Aaron Ford is one of them.

    official legislative record

    For: Aaron D. Ford: Not comparable yet

  11. Statutes of Nevada 2015, Chapter 498https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Statutes/78th2015/Stats201528.html

    Nevada Legislature · Published Jun 9, 2015 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The session law for SB 170, approved June 9, 2015. It starts on page 3041; page 3042 is the page the data center law's history cites.

    official legislative record

    For: Aaron D. Ford: Not comparable yet

  12. NRS 360.754, data center tax breakhttps://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/NRS-360.html

    Nevada Legislature · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The data center tax break in state law today. Its history note says it was added in 2015 (page 3042, SB 170) and changed in 2017, 2019 and 2021.

    official legislative record

    For: Aaron D. Ford: Not comparable yet