Mark IV Capital’s massive Victory Logistics District is not only reshaping the city’s landscape with housing and industry, but also preparing to generate enough electricity to rival Reno-Sparks, a company representative told the Lyon County Commission.
During a presentation on the project at the Nov. 20 County Commission meeting, Mark IV Capital Vice President of Entitlement Scott Barnes said the company is designing a modular gas-fired power plant that would begin with 250 megawatts and scale up to 1.8 gigawatts as demand grows. For comparison, he said Reno-Sparks and Washoe County currently generate about 2 gigawatts.
“This is another city, almost,” Barnes said. “The demand from data centers and other users requires much more power than a standard logistics complex.”
The plant would be built in phases, starting with smaller gas-fired units that can be added as needed. Barnes said the modular approach allows the company to match capacity with growth, ensuring reliable service without overbuilding.
Mark IV Capital is working with NV Energy and other vendors to secure both power and natural gas supplies. A new gas line will be required to fuel the generators.
Barnes said the surge in data centers is driving much of the demand. Unlike traditional warehouses or industrial users, data centers consume vast amounts of electricity to power servers and cooling systems.
The power plant alone represents an investment of about $1 billion, Barnes said. It is one of several large-scale infrastructure projects tied to the Fernley development, which also includes wastewater treatment, transportation improvements and housing.
Barnes emphasized that water is just as critical as electricity. The company is exploring advanced wastewater recycling modeled after projects near Reno, where treated effluent is injected into aquifers at A-plus quality standards.
“Water is just as valuable as gold,” Barnes said.
While full construction of the power plant will take years, Barnes said groundwork is already underway. The company has completed entitlements and recorded two final maps, with a third expected in January. Grading is in progress on 700 acres, including parcels sold to Microsoft.
Other infrastructure projects, such as the Nevada Pacific Parkway and a rail spur, are also moving forward. Barnes said the Parkway bridge embankment work will begin in January, with full roadway construction in the second or third quarter of 2026.
Barnes said the power plant will not only serve Fernley’s industrial park but also strengthen the region’s overall grid.
“Those improvements will make a definite positive impact for the region, not just for our development, but the entire city of Fernley and outside of the city of Fernley,” he said.
Barnes said the company’s planned Center of Excellence will include programs for data center management and maintenance. He said Western Nevada College will create classrooms, lavs and other education facilities in the building where Mark IV currently has its offices. He said a 59-acre area alongside I-80 will have space available for research and development.
“Our goal is to be able to provide training for the region, not just our users,” Barnes said.
Barnes said the Victory Logistics District is expected to reach full buildout by 2043, with property tax revenues and employment growing as construction continues. But he acknowledged that much of the work currently taking place is invisible to the public.
“What we have to keep explaining to people is there's a lot of work that goes into a project like this before you even see the first building or you see anything going vertical,” he said. “Unless you fly over it in a helicopter or plane, you don’t really notice it when you drive by.”
Comment
Comments