Denver City Council considers pause on new data center construction

The Denver City Council is preparing to vote on a proposed moratorium that would halt all new data center construction for up to a year. This pause aims to give the city time to develop specific regulations, as there are currently no zoning rules, energy requirements, or water use regulations tailored for data centers of significant size. The proposal stems from concerns raised by residents, particularly in the Illyria Swansea neighborhood, where Denver's largest data center is currently under construction at 49th and Race. Alfonso Espino from the Globeville Elyria Swancia Coalition highlighted community worries about health impacts, citing high rates of asthma and heart disease, and the data center's anticipated consumption of energy and water, along with its reliance on diesel generators. Council member Darryl Watson, who represents Illyria Swansea, noted that the existing project would not be affected by the moratorium as its permits were issued under old zoning rules. The video also referenced actions taken by other Colorado municipalities, such as Larimer County, which has already enacted a moratorium, and Weld County, which passed new regulations to restrict data center development to industrial areas, prohibiting them on farmland.