Weld County Residents React to GlobalAI Data Center Proposal, Urge Permit Denial
Residents in Weld County, Colorado, are actively opposing GlobalAI's proposed 1-gigawatt data center, citing concerns over unpermitted work, water contamination, electricity grid strain, and noise pollution. The Weld County Board of Commissioners is set to make a critical decision on a Use by Special Review Permit for the project on September 9.
John DiMatteo, a Johnstown resident and father, raised significant concerns about the proposed GlobalAI 1-gigawatt data center in Weld County during a recent planning commission meeting. He highlighted that GlobalAI, a Saudi Arabia-funded company, has been fast-tracked despite facing three "stop work" orders from Weld County for unpermitted construction at the site near Windsor.
Public comments at the September 1 meeting focused on GlobalAI's lack of transparent water sourcing plans for its cooling system, which is described as contaminating water that would require treatment before being discharged into a local river. DiMatteo also questioned the data center's immense 1-gigawatt energy demand, equivalent to a nuclear reactor, and its potential to cause community blackouts due to an unprepared local grid. Residents are pressing the Weld County Commissioners to deny the project's Use by Special Review Permit, citing risks to infrastructure, water safety, and quality of life. Noise pollution from industrial cooling chillers running 24/7 is another major concern, with calls for independent noise monitoring and physical sound barriers. The Board of Commissioners is scheduled to make a decision on the permit on September 9, and community members are urged to attend.