Denver City Council to vote on data center moratorium as Elyria-Swansea neighborhood fights new facility

The Denver City Council is expected to vote next month on a proposal to enact a one-year moratorium on all new data center construction within the city and county of Denver. The moratorium, introduced by council members Darrell Watson and Paul Kashmann, aims to halt the approval of new zoning permits and site development plans for data centers, providing the city with crucial time to draft comprehensive regulations regarding energy use, water consumption, noise, and facility placement. Currently, Denver lacks specific zoning rules, energy requirements, or water use regulations for data centers, a gap Councilman Watson emphasized as the primary reason for the proposed pause. The initiative has gained urgency due to community concerns in the Elyria-Swansea neighborhood, where Denver's largest data center is currently being built at 49th Street and Race Street. Alfonso Espino, representing the Globeville Elyria-Swansea Coalition, voiced residents' alarm over the massive facility, highlighting the potential for significant environmental and health impacts on a community already struggling with poor air quality and high rates of asthma and heart disease. Residents are concerned about the data center's substantial energy and water consumption, as well as the use of diesel generators, which could exacerbate existing pollution from industrial facilities like the nearby Purina factory. While the proposed moratorium would not affect the data center currently under construction, as its permits were approved under previous zoning rules, it seeks to prevent further development without proper oversight. The council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on May 18, with the moratorium potentially taking effect on May 21 if approved, aligning Denver with other localities like Larimer County, Colorado, that have recently enacted similar development pauses.