Mead trustees approve 12-month data center moratorium
Mead trustees approved a 12-month moratorium on data center applications, allowing town staff time to study potential impacts and develop regulations. The 4-2 vote aims to address concerns about substantial demands on infrastructure, including electrical power and water supply. This temporary measure does not permanently prohibit data centers in Mead.
The Mead Board of Trustees voted 4-2 to approve a 12-month moratorium on new data center applications within the town. The decision, made at their August 31 meeting, aims to provide town staff with a reasonable period to study the potential impacts of data center developments and to establish appropriate regulations. Trustees Brad Hagan and Jeremiah Crane voted against the measure, arguing that while regulations are necessary, data centers offer significant economic benefits, and questioned the need for a full year.
Town Attorney Marcus McAskin explained that the moratorium is a temporary measure designed to manage increasing interest in data center developments in the Front Range, citing the proposed Global AI data center in Windsor as an example. He highlighted the substantial demands data centers place on community infrastructure, including electrical power, utility networks, and water supply. Mayor pro tem Trisha Harris supported the moratorium, emphasizing the need for regulations to manage the unknown impacts, drawing parallels to early regulations for oil and solar farms. The moratorium does not permanently prohibit data centers and can be lifted sooner if staff completes their review.