New Aurora data center regulations up for discussion this Monday
Aurora City Council is set to discuss new data center regulations focused on water usage and location restrictions. Proposed rules include banning evaporative cooling and preventing data centers in certain mixed-use zones. These discussions follow a prior resolution directing the city manager to draft such regulations.
The Aurora City Council is slated to discuss new regulations for data centers this Monday, with a primary focus on addressing water consumption and controlling the placement of these facilities within the city.
Key proposals under consideration include a ban on evaporative cooling systems, a water-intensive method used by data centers, in multifamily, industrial, and commercial buildings. Additionally, new rules aim to prevent data centers from being constructed in mixed-use office-industrial zoned areas, particularly those that are located near or include residential units.
These specific regulations, alongside other potential measures for data centers, will be reviewed during the Monday study session. The council's decision to pursue these new regulations follows a resolution approved on August 10, which directed the city manager to develop comprehensive data center regulations, including prohibitions on evaporative cooling and requirements for setbacks and landscape buffers in certain areas.