Denver City Council unanimously passes 1-year pause on construction of data centers

The Denver City Council has unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on new data center construction following extensive community testimony on Monday night. This decision directly impacts existing development plans, including two additional buildings slated for the CoreSite facility in the Elyria-Swansea neighborhood.

The moratorium was enacted amidst vocal opposition from residents, particularly in historically polluted areas such as Globeville and Elyria-Swansea. Former Commerce City Council member Renée Chacon and resident Joseph Herrera highlighted significant health concerns, including high rates of asthma and cancer, which they attribute partly to industrial facilities and the environmental impact of data centers. A 2025 community health study indicated a 24% higher death rate in these neighborhoods compared to the Denver average.

Conversely, some residents and labor representatives opposed an outright ban, emphasizing the economic benefits. Julian Aguilar, representing the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union number 68, pointed out that data centers power essential modern technology and provide employment, citing 220 members who worked on the CoreSite facility in the past year.

With the moratorium now in effect, the City Council will form a task force to develop comprehensive policy recommendations for future data center construction. The council indicated they would consider extending the ordinance if the task force's work requires more than the allotted year. The newly halted CoreSite buildings will be subject to any regulations established by this future policy.