A proposed data center in a historically disadvantaged neighborhood in Denver could lead to a city moratorium — just as Colorado lawmakers consider statewide limits on the power-hungry sites.
The debate is coming to a head in the northeast Denver neighborhood of Elyria-Swansea, where tech developer CoreSite is planning a 180,000-square-foot facility that would consume enough electricity to supply nearly 20,000 homes. The local backlash helped prompt Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and City Council members to propose a pause on new data centers.
The moratorium — which could face a council vote this month — would give the city a year to review how data centers might affect Denverites’ utility bills and update zoning rules on energy and power use.
“We need to decide if there’s a way that additional data center development can fit into the Denver context,” said council member Paul Kashmann, a moratorium sponsor. “And if there is, what guardrails do we need?”
