Mesa County, Colorado Approves Data Center Moratorium
Mesa County commissioners unanimously approved a 12-month moratorium on new data-center applications in unincorporated areas of the county. The pause responds to residents' concerns about water protection and energy availability and gives officials time to develop land-use rules for data centers.
The Mesa County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on new data-center applications in the county's unincorporated areas. The pause took effect Tuesday but does not apply to public lands, existing facilities or areas within incorporated cities.
Commissioners Cody Davis, Bobbie Daniel and JJ Fletcher said the decision followed public pressure and concerns about water supplies and energy capacity. County officials plan to study whether data centers should be permitted and how they should be regulated, with recommendations expected after further work involving the planning commission and community development director and a broader review in 2027.