A data center is being proposed in NW Colorado Springs, neighbors have concerns

A proposed data center, known as "Project Taurus," is stirring concerns among residents of the Chelsea Glen neighborhood in northwest Colorado Springs. The facility, slated to occupy the former Intel chip plant near Garden of the Gods road, is being developed by Oakland, California-based company Raeden. Neighbors, including Kate Kent and Ron Graham-Becker, express significant apprehension regarding potential noise pollution, recalling a prior negative experience with a crypto mining operation, 3G Venture, which occupied the building from 2018 to 2022 and caused persistent noise issues. Jason Green, COO and co-founder of Raeden, clarified that Raeden is in the final stages of a real estate transaction to purchase the building from 3G Venture, emphasizing that their business model differs significantly from the former tenant's crypto mining operations. Green addressed environmental concerns, stating the data center will utilize a "closed loop cooling system" that minimizes water consumption after an initial setup phase, unlike the previous chip fab's millions of gallons per day. He also noted that "large-load customers" like Raeden are required by Colorado Springs Utilities to pay for necessary infrastructure and provide collateral, potentially incurring additional costs due to Springs Utilities' integration with the Southwest Power Pool. Despite Raeden's assurances, residents like Kent are advocating for increased transparency and proactive stipulations from the City of Colorado Springs to protect the community, citing the noise problems of the past. Kent referenced the City of Denver's recent moratorium on data centers as a potential measure for Colorado Springs to consider. A town hall meeting is scheduled for Tuesday night at the Hyatt Place hotel on Garden of the Gods Road, offering residents an opportunity to voice their concerns directly to Raeden.