Group speaks about shaping Denver's data center policy
Denver has enacted a temporary, one-year moratorium on new data center facilities while a 26-member working group develops long-term policies. Health, air quality, zoning and utility concerns are central to the group’s discussions, while data center industry representatives are also participating.
Denver is using a one-year pause on new data center facilities to develop rules for future projects. The moratorium passed on a 7-2 vote, following concerns about air pollution, backup diesel generators, utility costs and the placement of facilities near homes, playgrounds and health clinics. A data center in the Elyria-Swansea neighborhood received approval before the moratorium took effect.
The city’s 26-member Data Center Working Group includes public health, air quality, university and industry representatives. Jim Garcia of Tepeyac Community Health Center emphasized community health, while Ian Thomas DeFoya of GreenLatinos called for stronger zoning and pollution protections. Matt Gallagher of Satoshi Energy said he is approaching the process with an open mind, and participants said they aim to develop policies that reduce community impacts rather than ban or broadly endorse data centers.