Rio Grande commissioners say no for now to data centers: One-year moratorium allows officials to look at land use codes — Owen Woods (AlamosaCitizen.com) #RioGrande #SanLuisValley
The Rio Grande County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a year-long moratorium on data centers and a separate resolution prohibiting large-scale and hyperscale data centers within the county. This decision aims to allow county departments to update land use codes, following significant public concern about data center construction. Other counties in the San Luis Valley have taken similar actions.
The Rio Grande County Board of Commissioners has enacted a one-year moratorium on data center development, alongside a resolution that outright prohibits large-scale and hyperscale data centers within its jurisdiction. This unanimous decision, made during a recent regular meeting, empowers county departments to update and refine existing land use codes that previously lacked specific language for data centers.
County Administrator Skip Schoen indicated that the actions stem from "considerable concern" voiced by the public. Over 30 individuals spoke at a preceding public hearing, with additional comments submitted in writing. This sentiment reflects broader anxieties surrounding data center proliferation across the San Luis Valley and nationwide.
Rio Grande County's move follows similar measures taken by neighboring entities in the San Luis Valley, including Saguache County, the town of South Fork, and Costilla County, all of which have adopted various moratoriums or resolutions concerning data centers. Meanwhile, Alamosa County is currently engaging with Strata Inc. regarding a proposed small-scale data center, while the city of Alamosa is set to consider its own temporary moratorium on "Utility Scale Battery Energy Storage Systems and Large Load Data Centers."