Landowner alleges Weld County commissioners bent rules for data center project
Affiliates of Broe Cos., which owns the industrial park adjoining the proposed project, sued Weld County officials over their approval of GlobalAI Cloud’s massive data center in Windsor. The lawsuit alleges that commissioners changed county rules, overlooked unauthorized construction, improperly helped secure power, and failed to address the project’s water, electricity and noise impacts.
Affiliates of Denver-based Broe Cos. filed a lawsuit in Weld District Court seeking to overturn the Weld County commissioners’ unanimous approval of a special-review permit for GlobalAI Cloud’s proposed data center at the former Carestream Health facility in Windsor. The plaintiffs allege that county officials accelerated the approval process, amended regulations to accommodate the project and failed to enforce three stop-work orders issued after construction began without required permits.
The complaint also alleges that Commissioner Kevin Ross lobbied the Western Area Power Administration on GlobalAI’s behalf, commissioners conducted an undisclosed data-center visit, and county officials withheld public records related to the project. Broe’s affiliates and residents contend that GlobalAI has not adequately documented its water and power needs and could threaten the surrounding electrical grid, industrial operations and county noise limits. Residents have also begun a petition drive seeking a public vote, while county officials declined to comment because the case is pending litigation.