Greeley approves annexation for proposed data center

The Greeley City Council voted 6-1 to approve the annexation of a 438-acre property located between Greeley and Windsor, paving the way for a proposed data center. Councilor Craig Huddleston was the sole dissenting vote, citing unresolved issues and anticipation of further discussions with Weld County. This approval, combined with a land use permit granted by the Weld County Commissioners, allows Global AI to proceed with its data center development on the former Carestream Health site.

City of Greeley Strategic Advisor John Hall highlighted the property's unique water supply agreement with the city, which expires in March 2027. The current annexation agreement ties continued water service to a defined process, requiring the developer to complete annexation by March 31, 2028, to secure long-term service. Global AI will also be responsible for infrastructure upgrades to transition to direct city service. Hall clarified that this agreement establishes the governance framework, with future proceedings to determine final annexation, zoning, and development intensity.

Concerns were raised by council members, including Deb Deboutez, who pointed out the city's lack of experience with data centers and absence of established codes. She voiced worries about water and energy consumption, energy sources and emissions, treated water quality monitoring, and noise impacts on nearby residents and wildlife along the Poudre River. Mayor Dale Hall affirmed the city's commitment to transparency, ensuring all public emails regarding the data center were forwarded for answers before any potential annexation agreement is finalized.