Overview
- Mayor Mike Johnston endorsed a moratorium that would begin only after a City Council ordinance passes, with Councilmember Darrell Watson saying he will introduce the proposal.
- The review would create data center–specific zoning and standards for responsible land use, energy and water consumption, and protections for utility ratepayers.
- Existing facilities and projects already permitted or under construction, including CoreSite’s Elyria–Swansea campus, would not be halted but could be expected to follow new guidelines once issued.
- Neighbors in the Globeville–Elyria–Swansea area and the GES Coalition oppose the CoreSite buildout, citing heavy energy and water demand and cumulative environmental burdens.
- Colorado lawmakers are weighing competing bills, with HB 1030 offering long sales-and-use tax exemptions and SB 102 requiring renewable energy matching and ratepayer safeguards, as national calls for tighter oversight grow and Sen. Bernie Sanders praises Denver’s move.