AI data center project must have decomissioning agreement
Alamosa County Commissioners approved a special use permit for Strata Inc. to build an AI data center near Hooper, Colorado. However, the permit's issuance is contingent on an unusual requirement for a decommissioning agreement and a tax benefit statement, which are not yet in place. The project faces significant community opposition, with residents expressing feelings of deception regarding the approval process.
Alamosa County Commissioners recently approved a special use permit for Strata Inc. to construct a container-based AI data center near Hooper, Colorado, a decision that has generated considerable community outrage. County Attorney Jason Kelly highlighted that the commissioners took the unusual step of mandating a decommissioning agreement as a prerequisite for the permit's official issuance, a requirement typically not applied to special use permit applications. This agreement, along with a tax benefit statement from Strata Inc., must be finalized before construction can begin.
Community members, including Lars Feliciano, voiced strong dissent at a commission meeting, stating that residents "do not want it" and feel "deceived" by the commission's handling of the project. The decommissioning agreement is expected to require Strata Inc. to secure a substantial letter of credit, potentially in the high six or seven figures, to ensure the restoration of the disturbed property to its original state. As of the report, neither the decommissioning agreement nor the tax benefit statement has been provided by Strata Inc.