Today, we think of nothing of sending a quick email, searching and browsing the internet, enjoying online shopping, or storing and sharing photos and videos.

But a vast physical network of data centers (also known as cloud computing) - full of servers and storage capacity - is needed to support the explosion in the use of the internet.

The Tahoe Reno Industrial Center site is most famous for being home to the Tesla Gigafactory. It is also home to many data centers - Apple, Switch, Google, RackSpace and several other companies have large data centers in the Nevada desert near Reno.

Someone once said that data storage companies are like geese. There's a flock flying over, they see a little field down below, one goose will come down, and if it doesn't get shot, the others follow. Once one company has a good experience, the rest of them flock in, and that's exactly what happened here.

Colorful pipes carry water in and out of Google's data center. The blue pipes supply cold water and the red pipes return the warm water back to be cooled.

Google plans to invest $400 million MORE in Nevada this year to support its data center campuses in Nevada, the company announced on 8-27-2024. The Reno area Google data center opened in 2021 at a cost of $600 million.

The investment will help meet growing demand for Google Cloud, AI innovations, and other digital products and services, Google Data Centers Vice President Joe Kava said at an event held at UNR to announce the investment.

PowerHouse has several data centers on the East coast. PowerHouse Reno is their first site in Nevada and will provide more than 65 MW of bridging power, which is scheduled to be in-place by year-end 2025.

“We just love Northern Nevada for a lot of reasons,” said Karen Petersburg, PowerHouse’s vice president of data center development and construction.

“It's become somewhat of a mecca of data center companies and operators that have been there, are going there, or are already there now.

It really drew us for that reason, but also because of the business-friendly aspects of the area. It’s very business friendly and they have made it very easy for developers with quick permitting.”

PowerHouse Data Centers, a leading developer of next-generation data centers, has announced the development of "PowerHouse Reno," a three-building, 900,000 square foot powered shell data center campus near Reno, Nevada.

PowerHouse Reno is strategically located in the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center (TRIC), the largest industrial park by landmass in the United States. This location positions the facility to meet the increasing data demands of hyperscale users in the area.

TRIC, along with Reno, has rapidly evolved into one of the nation’s fastest-growing tech hubs, thanks to its proximity to Western markets and lower costs compared to California.

The Reno region’s central location, access to low-cost renewable energy, a qualified workforce, competitive tax rates, and overall business-friendly environment make it an ideal choice for such a large-scale development.

Doug Fleit, co-founder and CEO of AREP and PowerHouse, highlighted the critical role of PowerHouse Reno in supporting the explosive growth of AI across industries.

He noted that the campus will provide attractive power delivery costs and reliable renewable energy components, which are crucial as hyperscale demand continues to rise.

PowerHouse Data Centers is recognized for its innovative approach to data center development, offering flexible, next-generation models that meet the growing needs of hyperscalers.

The company owns its land sites, allowing for fast-track approvals and zoning, which accelerates the speed to market.

This flexibility and efficiency make PowerHouse a disruptor in the industry, delivering data center solutions that cater to the evolving requirements of its clients.

PowerHouse Reno is ideally positioned to be leased to a single tenant, but the facility also has the flexibility to be split if necessary.

Michael Hochanadel, Head of Digital for PowerHouse, emphasized the significance of the Reno expansion, stating that it aligns perfectly with the needs of leading technology firms.

He expressed confidence in PowerHouse’s ability to capitalize on evolving customer requirements and indicated that further expansions are planned for the future.