Colorado Springs City Council sets special meeting for Project Taurus data center decision
The Colorado Springs City Council will hold a special meeting on September 17 to consider an appeal for the Project Taurus data center, which was previously approved by the city Planning Commission. The project, proposed by Raeden, has drawn significant opposition from residents concerned about water usage, noise levels, and the approval process. The City Council's decision will be the final word on the data center's future in Colorado Springs.
The Colorado Springs City Council has scheduled a special meeting for September 17 to address the appeal of Project Taurus, a contentious data center development. The meeting, anticipated to attract a large crowd, will take place at the Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts and is expected to last between eight and ten hours, with a two-hour public comment period.
The project, proposed by California-based company Raeden, involves converting a former semiconductor manufacturing facility into a data center that would use up to 50 MW of power and a closed-loop cooling system reusing 200,000 gallons of water. Raeden has detailed measures to mitigate noise from generators and chillers, claiming sound levels at property lines will be comparable to a quiet office.
Project Taurus has faced considerable opposition from local residents and groups, including the political nonprofit Integrity Matters, citing concerns over water consumption, noise pollution, and the technicalities of the approval process. Although the city Planning Commission approved the data center after a 14-hour hearing, it imposed restrictions on maximum power usage and required utility usage reporting. The City Council's upcoming decision is the final step for the project in Colorado Springs.