Data center zoning review process to begin Wednesday in Moffat County
The Moffat County Zoning and Planning Commission will begin a series of meetings to consider potential regulations for data centers. This process follows the Colorado State Legislature's failure to resolve statewide data center debates. Key concerns include water usage, potential rate increases, and economic benefits like job creation and tax revenue.
The Moffat County Zoning and Planning Commission is set to initiate a review process concerning potential regulations for data centers. A discussion meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 5, at 6:30 p.m. in the Commissioners Chambers of the Moffat County Courthouse to gather information from professionals and community members.
This local initiative stems from the Colorado State Legislature's inability to pass statewide legislation on data centers during its last session, shifting the responsibility of regulation to local governments. Discussions around data center establishment in Colorado have primarily centered on balancing concerns over significant water usage and potential utility rate increases for residents against the economic benefits of job creation and increased tax revenue.
Other local entities, such as the Routt County Planning Department, have already concluded that data centers are prohibited under their Unified Development Code, citing water diversion from agricultural purposes as a primary concern. The Moffat County Planning Commission, acknowledging its lack of expertise, is actively seeking public input through written comments and in-person testimony at the upcoming meeting to inform its recommendations and decisions.