Megan Meyer: Weld County AI data center could hurt water supply (guest opinion)

Megan Meyer, a health environmentalist, penned a guest opinion piece in the Greeley Tribune expressing grave concerns regarding a proposed AI data center in Weld County, Colorado. Meyer asserts that the data center's reliance on evaporative cooling systems, which consume millions of gallons of water daily, would significantly exacerbate the county's already critical water crisis. She points to severe surface and groundwater depletion in the region, citing the Colorado River Basin's substantial losses and specific challenges faced by Firestone's St. Vrain Water Treatment Plant, which projects it can meet less than 50% of the town's 2030 demand. The article also connects the proposed Weld AI data center project to Colorado's ongoing consideration of HB26-1030. This legislation could grant 20 years of sales tax exemptions for "renewable-powered" data centers, potentially facilitating such developments despite local environmental concerns. Meyer argues that Weld County, already a national leader in oil and gas production, has reached its industrial water use threshold. Meyer urges Weld residents to set aside political affiliations and recognize the broader implications of any AI data center proposal in Colorado. She calls for organized opposition through local Facebook groups and attendance at commissioner meetings. The Weld County Commissioners recently extended the review timeline for a proposed regulatory ordinance related to this development, pushing the discussion to April 6.