Extended headlines | Colorado town places moratorium on data centers
The town of Lochbuie, Colorado, has enacted a five-year moratorium on data centers due to proactive concerns about water usage and noise, which is the longest in the state. This follows a contentious decision in Colorado Springs where city officials approved 'Project Taurus' despite 14 hours of public opposition.
The town of Lochbuie, Colorado, northwest of Denver, has proactively approved a five-year moratorium on new data center construction and expansion applications. Mayor Jamie Jeffrey stated that no developers had approached the town, but the council wanted to be proactive. The decision was made with a 6-1 vote after significant community input, including hundreds of emails and testimony from residents concerned about water usage and noise. The Colorado Municipal League noted this as the longest moratorium of its kind in the state.
This development comes amidst broader discussions about data center growth in Colorado. Denver previously announced a pause on new data center construction earlier in the year. In Colorado Springs, local officials greenlit "Project Taurus" despite 14 hours of public testimony from residents attempting to block the project. A Gallup survey indicates that over 70% of the country's population has concerns about local data center construction, citing issues such as pollution, excessive water usage, and higher energy costs.