What’s happening in Colorado
Colorado is a rapidly escalating battleground. Multiple fronts are active simultaneously.
Denver City Council has filed a moratorium on new data center development.
Weld County approved Code Ordinance 2026-01 on April 6, 2026 by a 4-1 vote, defining data centers in the county code. More than 25 residents spoke during 3 hours of public comment asking for a pause. Commissioner Scott James cast the lone dissenting vote.
Global AI has acquired 438 acres near Windsor targeting an eventual 1 gigawatt of capacity — the equivalent of a large nuclear power plant.
Two competing bills are before the legislature: one offering 100% sales tax rebate for 20 years, another proposing a moratorium and regulatory framework.
Why Colorado residents are concerned
Water. Colorado is semi-arid. A facility scaling to 1 GW would consume enormous quantities for cooling. The developer's claim about initial water use doesn't account for planned 50x expansion.
Electric grid. 1 GW of demand requires massive transmission investment. The question is who pays — the developer or residential ratepayers.
Agricultural land. Weld County is one of the top agricultural counties in the U.S. Converting hundreds of acres to industrial use is irreversible.
How to oppose a data center in Colorado
Attend your county commission or city council meetings. Local elected officials control zoning and land use decisions. Public comment periods are your most direct opportunity to voice opposition. Bring specific concerns — water impact, property values, electricity rates, noise — and reference relevant state and local legislation.
Send a formal opposition letter. Written opposition becomes part of the public record and carries significant weight with commissioners. Letters should cite specific concerns, reference relevant statutes, and be addressed to every commissioner by name. We handle this for you →
Organize your neighbors. Join or create a local opposition group. More than 268 community groups across 37 states are actively fighting data center developments. Strength in numbers changes votes.
Engage state legislators. Contact your state representative and senator. Tell them you support regulatory frameworks that protect communities from data center impacts — including moratoriums, ratepayer protections, and environmental review requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a data center moratorium in Colorado?
Denver City Council filed a moratorium. At the state level, competing legislation includes both a moratorium proposal and a 20-year tax rebate bill. Weld County approved data center zoning April 6, 2026 despite significant resident opposition.
How can I oppose a data center in Colorado?
Attend your county commission or city council meetings, submit formal opposition letters to your elected officials, and engage with state-level legislation. More than 268 community groups across 37 states are actively fighting data center developments. We can research your local officials and send a personalized opposition letter on your behalf for you.
How much water does a data center use?
A single hyperscale data center can consume up to 1 million gallons of water per day during peak cooling. AI data centers consumed roughly 17 billion gallons nationally in 2023, projected to reach 68 billion gallons by 2028.
Do data centers lower property values?
Research consistently shows that proximity to industrial infrastructure — including data centers — can negatively impact residential property values. Windowless warehouse-scale buildings, diesel generators, and continuous noise are incompatible with residential neighborhoods.