Aurora lawmakers advance rules on data center water use and locations near neighborhoods
Aurora lawmakers are advancing two proposed regulations concerning data centers: one banning water-intensive evaporative cooling systems in certain buildings, and another preventing data centers in specific mixed-use zones. These measures will proceed to future city council meetings, with the evaporative cooling ban expected on the September 14 agenda.
Aurora city lawmakers have unanimously supported advancing two proposed data center regulations for a future vote. One regulation aims to ban water-intensive evaporative cooling systems in multifamily, industrial, and commercial buildings. The second proposed regulation would prohibit the construction of data centers in mixed-use office-institutional zoned areas, which often include or are adjacent to residential units.
The measure regarding evaporative cooling systems is slated for the September 14 agenda of the City Council. The zoning change, however, will first be reviewed by the planning and zoning commission before being brought to the city council for a final decision.