Arapahoe County leaders tour data centers amid community pushback, regulations
Elected officials from Arapahoe County and surrounding municipalities toured local data centers due to community backlash and concerns about regulations. The tour aimed to inform officials about data center operations and their interaction with utilities and local governments. Representatives from Xcel Energy and Core Electric also participated.
A group of approximately 40 elected officials, municipal staff, and representatives from Xcel Energy and Core Electric embarked on a tour of four data centers in Colorado's east metro region. The tour was organized in response to growing community backlash and regulatory discussions surrounding data center developments.
Participants included Arapahoe County commissioners Leslie Summey, Rhonda Fields, and Carrie Warren-Gully, Colorado Rep. Jamie Jackson, and Aurora City Manager Jason Batchelor, along with council members from Parker and Bennet. Notable stops on the tour included facilities operated by Comcast in Centennial, H5 in Greenwood Village, Flexential in Parker, and QTS in Aurora.
According to Commissioner Leslie Summey, the primary objective of the tour was to enhance understanding of various data center types and their operational relationships with utilities, local governments, and the broader community. The initiative sought to provide more information to leaders amidst ongoing public concerns.