Aurora considers a pause on new data centers
Aurora, Colorado, is considering a six-month moratorium on new data center construction, proposed by City Councilmember Amy Wiles. The pause aims to establish new city rules and protections for future facilities, following a similar moratorium enacted in Denver. Concerns about water and electricity usage are also being raised.
Aurora, Colorado, is contemplating a six-month moratorium on new data center developments. City Councilmember Amy Wiles plans to introduce a resolution to halt construction, allowing the city to establish comprehensive regulations for these facilities. The proposed moratorium would not affect data centers currently under construction, including a large QTS hyperscale facility in East Aurora, or four other facilities already in development.
The initiative follows Denver's year-long moratorium enacted earlier this year, which occurred after a CoreSite data center was built in the Illyria-Swansea neighborhood. Advocates like Ilana Miller, who leads climate policy for Colorado at the Natural Resources Defense Council, emphasize the need for stronger statewide standards, as individual cities face limitations in controlling aspects like clean power and pollution.
Water usage is a significant concern, with Aurora Water reporting that a new hyperscale data center complex is expected to consume about a million gallons of water annually upon completion, though data centers currently account for a small fraction of the city's total water use. The city aims to develop "specialized rules" to address the specific challenges presented by data centers.