Aurora City Council rejects six-month data center ban
Aurora City Council rejected a proposed six-month moratorium on new data center construction. Instead, the council approved a resolution to establish new regulations, including a ban on evaporative cooling and the creation of buffer zones, with ordinances to be proposed within 35 days.
The Aurora City Council voted against a proposed six-month moratorium on new data center development. The ban, sponsored by Councilmember Amy Wiles, aimed to provide the city with time to establish comprehensive rules governing the location and construction of data centers, without impacting facilities already under construction or existing ones.
Despite the rejection of the moratorium, the council passed a separate resolution. This resolution directs City Manager Jason Batchelor to develop new ordinances within 35 days. These ordinances are expected to ban evaporative cooling, a water-intensive process, and establish buffer zones for data centers near residential neighborhoods. Councilmember Françoise Bergan, who voted in favor of the resolution, emphasized the importance of ensuring that businesses are compatible with local zoning, water use restrictions, and other environmental concerns.