Denver city leaders launch data center 'working group' as they weigh future regulations
Denver city leaders have launched a 20-plus-member working group to recommend future regulations for data centers in the city. This initiative comes as Denver's current moratorium on data center construction is set to end in May of next year. The group is tasked with determining how Denver should proceed with data center development, with funding from the city's Climate Protection Fund.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has announced the formation of a data center working group to shape future regulations for data centers within the city. The group, comprising at least 20 members including community residents and experts, will explore how Denver should proceed with data center development once the city's current moratorium expires in May of next year.
The initiative follows a year of controversy surrounding data centers in Colorado, with some communities like A and Parker moving forward with projects, while others, including Boulder and Jefferson Counties, have enacted moratoriums. The working group aims to answer critical questions regarding the design, location, number, and types of data centers Denver should permit, acknowledging the prominent presence of facilities like the Courtside Data Center.
Funded by $400,000 from the city's Climate Protection Fund, the group will include representatives from Denver Water, labor unions, nonprofits, healthcare, and air quality experts. However, some community members, like Sophina Peno, a community organizer with the G.E.S. Coalition, expressed that the group's formation feels overdue and advocate for heavy regulation of future data centers, stating their community has already offered suggestions and remains hopeful for change.