Nearly 500 communities have paused data center growth, including Denver
Denver is among nearly 500 U.S. communities that have paused, restricted or banned data center development as demand from artificial intelligence grows. The Denver City Council approved a 12-month moratorium after concerns about the scale of CoreSite's facility, power and water demands, and the lack of adequate zoning rules for the Globeville neighborhood.
A Denver7 report examines the national backlash against data center growth, saying nearly 500 cities and counties have enacted pauses or bans of varying lengths. The debate is being driven by concerns over electricity consumption, water use, pollution and the rapid expansion of artificial-intelligence infrastructure.
In Denver, residents of the Globeville neighborhood are confronting a large CoreSite data center near homes and other long-established community uses. The facility had already received approval before the city imposed a 12-month moratorium. Councilman Mike Johnston said Denver's zoning code was not designed for a project of that scale and that the pause would give the city time to develop regulations, although it cannot reverse what has already been approved.