Boulder County enacts moratorium on data, detention centers
Boulder County commissioners unanimously enacted a six-month moratorium on data center and detention center applications. This pause allows staff to work on land use code changes, potentially prohibiting these facilities in the county's industrial areas. Concerns include the high energy and water use of AI data centers and their impact on community health and welfare.
The Boulder County commissioners voted unanimously to enact a six-month moratorium on accepting applications for data centers and detention centers. The moratorium allows county staff time to develop code changes that could potentially prohibit these facilities in industrial areas. Commissioner Claire Levy expressed a desire to legally prevent such developments in Boulder County, citing concerns about resource intensity.
The decision follows a work session where staff highlighted that the current land use code does not adequately define or regulate data centers and detention centers, nor does it specify appropriate zoning districts or scale. Key concerns include the high energy and water demands of AI data centers and potential negative impacts on community health and welfare, as articulated by Commissioner Ashley Stolzmann.
Boulder County planner Ethan Abner noted that other communities are also regulating these uses, with some Colorado municipalities like Longmont and Broomfield considering or enacting their own restrictions or moratoriums. The Longmont City Council recently held a first reading on a ban for hyperscale data centers, and the Broomfield City Council was set to consider an 18-month moratorium. All three Boulder County commissioners agreed on the importance of exploring not allowing large-scale data and detention centers in unincorporated areas.