Garfield County encouraged to evaluate data center proposals with specific requirements
An opinion column argues that Garfield County, Colorado, should not dismiss data center development, despite concerns about water and power. The author suggests the county should instead set strict non-negotiable requirements for developers regarding water usage, electricity generation, and economic contributions.
Caleb Waller, a financial professional and community organizer living in Silt, argues in an opinion piece for the Post Independent that Garfield County, Colorado, should cautiously consider data center development rather than dismissing it outright. He acknowledges valid concerns regarding water and power consumption but asserts that these issues warrant solutions, not automatic rejection.
Waller proposes several non-negotiable requirements for any data center project approved in Garfield County. For water, he insists on closed-loop, dry, or air-cooling systems to keep consumptive water use extremely low, requiring developers to demonstrate water sources. Regarding electricity, he suggests developers should be responsible for providing their own generation and major infrastructure, potentially including advanced nuclear technologies like small modular reactors, to avoid burdening existing ratepayers or the grid.
Economically, Waller highlights that data centers, despite a small permanent workforce, could significantly bolster the local tax base with millions in annual contributions from their multi-million or billion-dollar infrastructure. This could help fund schools, roads, and emergency services while diversifying the county's tax revenue, historically reliant on energy and natural resources. He concludes by urging the county to engage with prospective developers who are prepared to meet these stringent requirements, ensuring a meaningful long-term economic benefit for the community.