Colorado Springs data center opponent indicted amid appeals process

Katie Kloth, a Colorado Springs resident, faces federal indictment in Georgia for her alleged involvement in a 2022 protest against the "Cop City" public safety training center in Atlanta. Kloth, 39, and Tyler John Norman are accused of launching explosive devices at the office of Brasfield & Gorrie, the general contractor for the "Cop City" project. They were charged with malicious damage of property with fire and using fire or explosives during a civil disorder, having previously faced state charges in Cobb County for the same incident, which were later dismissed. Kloth, who self-surrendered in Colorado, maintains the charges are a re-filing of dismissed accusations.

Separately, Kloth is a key figure in the local opposition to Project Taurus, a proposed data center in Colorado Springs. She submitted one of five appeals challenging the administrative approval of the data center's development plan by the Colorado Springs Planning Department on June 11. Her appeal primarily argues that the data center's significant water usage, which developers Raeden claim will be a one-time fill of 200,000 gallons for a closed-loop cooling system, violates Governor Jared Polis's Phase 3 Drought Response Plan. However, state officials and Colorado Springs Utilities have not applied the drought plan to new private construction or imposed restrictions on businesses. The Colorado Springs Planning Commission is scheduled to consider Kloth's and other residents' appeals at a special meeting on July 23.