Aurora lifts data center moratorium with new regulations

The Aurora City Council has officially lifted its moratorium on new data centers following the passage of several new regulations during a late-night meeting on Tuesday. The comprehensive rules are designed to govern sound, environmental impact, and energy use for data center facilities within the city. Alison Lindburg, Director of Sustainability, stated that the regulations are intended to attract "cream of the crop" data center development while preventing issues for residents, such as noise complaints or long-term concerns regarding energy and water consumption and air quality. The new requirements also mandate compliance with biometric data privacy standards, annual certificates of compliance to the city, and on-site green energy or energy storage to reduce strain on the local power grid. The city currently hosts five data centers and is reviewing five additional applications. Although one existing data center is a source of noise complaints, it is not subject to the new rules, but is reportedly collaborating with the city to resolve the issues.