Proposed Colorado Springs data center Project Taurus moving forward
The Colorado Springs Planning Commission denied an appeal to halt the proposed "Project Taurus" data center, allowing it to move forward. Despite significant community opposition citing environmental concerns like water usage and noise, the developer has made efforts to address these issues. The project now heads to City Council, where residents plan to file another appeal.
The Colorado Springs Planning Commission voted to reject an appeal against the proposed "Project Taurus" data center, allowing the project to advance. The decision came after an extended meeting, lasting from 9 AM Thursday until early Friday morning, during which numerous residents expressed distrust and disapproval of the development.
Opponents raised concerns about the data center's environmental impact, including water consumption and noise levels. Residents near the proposed site, located at the old Intel Microchip Manufacturing Plant along Garden of the Gods Road, expressed anxiety about potential decreases in property values.
Raeden, the company behind Project Taurus, stated it has made efforts to build trust within the community. The company claims the data center would use a fixed amount of water in a closed-loop cooling system, build barriers to block noise, and comply with city code. Despite these assurances, many residents have called for a moratorium to allow more time for research into the environmental impacts. With the Planning Commission's rejection of the appeal, the project is now set to go before the City Council, where residents indicated they plan to file another appeal.
KKTV 11 News Reporter Cameron Dean spoke with neighbors who believe another appeal should be filed with the City Council.