Landowner alleges Weld commissioners bent rules for data center
Affiliates of Broe Cos., which owns the Great Western Industrial Park near Greeley, sued the Weld County commissioners over their approval of GlobalAI Cloud’s proposed data center. The lawsuit alleges officials bent county rules, ignored stop-work orders and public-records requirements, and failed to address the project’s potential impacts on power, water and noise.
Affiliates of Denver-based Broe Cos. filed a lawsuit in Weld District Court seeking to overturn the Weld County Board of County Commissioners’ approval of GlobalAI Cloud Inc.’s proposed data center at the former Carestream Health property. The complaint alleges commissioners changed county rules to accommodate the project, accelerated its special-review approval and failed to enforce three stop-work orders issued after construction allegedly began without required permits.
The plaintiffs also argue that the project lacks adequate plans for electricity and water, could strain the surrounding power grid and exceed county noise limits. They allege Commissioner Kevin Ross improperly lobbied the Western Area Power Administration for transmission access and should have recused himself. The suit follows an eight-hour public hearing marked by substantial resident opposition and a petition drive seeking a public vote; Weld County officials declined to comment because the case is pending litigation.