Aurora City Council rejects data center moratorium, approves new rules, water regs
The Aurora City Council rejected a data center moratorium but approved new regulations. These new rules prohibit evaporative cooling and mandate setbacks and buffer zones for data centers near residential areas. The city manager will recommend further changes within 35 days.
The Aurora City Council voted 7-4 to reject a proposed moratorium on data center development, opting instead to approve new, specific regulations. Councilmembers Alison Coombs, Alli Jackson, Ruben Medina, and Amy Wiles opposed the approved resolution.
The new rules, passed on Monday, prohibit data centers from using water-intensive evaporative cooling systems. Additionally, they mandate setbacks and buffer zones for data centers located near residential areas to mitigate potential impacts. The city manager has been tasked with recommending further regulatory changes within 35 days.