Fort Collins City Council to vote on data center moratorium
The Fort Collins City Council is scheduled to vote on a proposed six-month moratorium on new large data center applications. The measure would pause primary-use data centers and accessory data centers using more than 10 megawatts while city staff develop permanent regulations addressing impacts such as power and water use.
Fort Collins City Council members are set to vote Oct. 20 on a proposed six-month moratorium that would prevent the city from accepting applications for data centers proposed as a primary use. The ordinance would also cover accessory data centers with projected power demand above 10 megawatts.
The pause is intended to give city planning staff time to develop regulations for council consideration. City Manager Kelly DiMartino said the 10-megawatt threshold reflects the definition of a large-load customer used by Platte River Power Authority, which supplies electricity to Fort Collins. Council members, including Josh Fudge and Mayor Emily Francis, have raised questions about tailoring future standards to facility size, electricity demand and water use rather than applying a uniform rule.