Board of County Commissioners bans construction of data centers until June 2027

The Grand County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a moratorium on data center construction until June 2027 at their June 9 meeting in Hot Sulphur Springs. The measure was enacted to give the county time to develop and align future energy-related regulations under its 1041 authority, which allows counties to regulate developments with local and statewide impacts, including major utility infrastructure.

This data center moratorium will expire concurrently with a pre-existing two-year moratorium on commercial solar and wind facilities over 25 kilowatts, which was adopted in June 2025 and is set to end on June 24, 2027. Commissioners stated that they believe data centers fall under the 1041 authority and that these facilities, along with solar and wind projects, should be reviewed together in a comprehensive regulatory amendment package.

Currently, Grand County lacks specific data center regulations, with the moratorium serving as the only prohibition on construction. Commissioners cited the need for more information on land use, energy demand, and water usage at both state and local levels before establishing permanent regulations. District 1 Commissioner Ed Raegner noted concerns regarding the significant electricity and cooling water demands of data centers, suggesting existing grid capacity is insufficient.

During public comment, Jeremy Krones, a Grand County resident and District 3 commissioner candidate, voiced concerns about evaluating solar, wind, and data centers together, particularly regarding land use and the potential strain on infrastructure from what he described as "largely extractive" data centers. The Commissioners plan to consult with neighboring counties, review existing regulations, and gather community input to draft future rules, emphasizing that while grouped for regulatory review, each type of facility will be treated as a distinct entity.