Moffat County Officials Under Scrutiny for Data Center Development Disclosures
Moffat County officials are facing scrutiny for allegedly withholding information from the public about prior engagements with data center developers Pure-Green Colorado and Toto Labs. Residents expressed strong opposition to data center development and questioned the county's sudden review of regulations, only to learn later of undisclosed communications and letters of intent. This has led to concerns about government transparency and accountability in the county's approach to data center projects.
An open letter to Moffat County residents published by CraigDailyPress.com alleges that county officials, including Commissioner Melody Villard, Natural Resources Director Jeff Comstock, and Planning and Zoning Director Candace Miller, withheld crucial information from the public regarding preliminary discussions with data center developers Pure-Green Colorado and Toto Labs. This alleged lack of transparency occurred despite overwhelming public opposition to data center development expressed at an August 5 Moffat County Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, where the commission initiated a review of data center regulations.
Documents revealed that Commissioner Villard had signed letters acknowledging Pure-Green Colorado's Letter of Intent to acquire the Trapper Mine property for a geothermal energy and advanced computing campus as early as April 2026, and supported Toto Labs' interest in July. These engagements, which included discussions about phased zoning and project review, were not disclosed when residents directly questioned the impetus for the county's regulatory review on August 5. Instead, officials suggested the review was merely a preparatory measure based on national trends.
The article highlights a discrepancy between county officials' public statements and documented private engagements, raising concerns about intentional concealment. While an inaccurate claim by Club 20 Executive Director Wade Haerle about non-disclosure agreements was swiftly corrected by county officials, accurate details about developer interest and meetings only emerged in stages after persistent questioning by the Craig Press and residents. The lack of direct answers from officials regarding their silence further fuels community distrust and calls for greater transparency in the county's approach to data center development.