AI Governance
Data Centers
Drones
Climate
Privacy
2026 Maine Senate
Bob Dylan
Last Update: 09/21/2026 at 10:34 AM EST
Colorado Cities Slow Data Center Expansion
Coverage from Broadband Breakfast, The Colorado Sun, and others
Colorado municipalities are slowing new data center construction through temporary moratoriums, capacity limits, and land-use reviews.
Denver, Broomfield, Monument, Lochbuie, and Longmont are examining or restricting projects because of concerns about electricity demand, water use, noise, emissions, transportation, and effects on nearby neighborhoods. The measures create time for local rules, but they also leave project timelines and the treatment of already-permitted expansions uneven across jurisdictions.
Looking Back
101 Day Timeline
May 17
Jun 4
Jun 20
Jul 8
Jul 24
Aug 11
Aug 27
History
09/08/2026
The story now includes Monument among communities reviewing or restricting data centers and more clearly highlights uneven treatment of already-permitted expansions. Otherwise, the update largely confirms the existing pattern of fragmented local controls and unresolved statewide policy.
08/24/2026
The story has shifted from exploratory local reviews to a broader, more concrete patchwork of enacted moratoriums, capacity limits, and siting requirements across Colorado. Indefinite postponement of competing state bills leaves local governments without a statewide framework.
All Articles27 articles
Important
Aurora, Illinois, and Anchorage, Alaska, adopted stricter data center ordinances in 2026 as local governments nationwide responded to energy, water, noise, and land-use concerns.
8/10/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
CoreSite proposed up to 805,000 gallons per day of cooling water for a North Denver data center campus during Denver’s yearlong new data-center moratorium amid Stage 1 drought.
6/29/2026 • Water & Cooling • General
Aurora City Councilmember Amy Wiles proposed a six-month moratorium on new data center approvals in Aurora, Colorado, while officials develop zoning, water, power, and resident protection rules.
8/9/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Aurora, Illinois, and Anchorage, Alaska, officials described new data center zoning, utility, water, and public engagement requirements during a national municipal policy webinar.
8/27/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Colorado cities and counties recently approved moratoriums and limits on new data centers while lawmakers failed to establish statewide rules.
8/10/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Broomfield City Council passed an 18-month moratorium on new data centers in Colorado on Tuesday night to develop city code regulations.
7/12/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Colorado local governments advanced data-center moratoriums and zoning requirements in 2025-2026 after HB 26-1030 and SB 26-102 were postponed indefinitely.
6/26/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Minneapolis approved a five-month moratorium on most data center projects on local council action while a new policy for future proposals is developed.
6/25/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Denver City Council approved a one-year moratorium on new data centers after a February proposal by Mayor Mike Johnston to develop permitting and regulatory rules.
5/19/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Denver City Council scheduled a vote on a one-year moratorium on new data center zoning permits while CoreSite DE3 construction in Elyria-Swansea drew water and power concerns.
5/19/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Aurora Councilmember Amy Wiles is proposing a six-month pause on future data center construction in Aurora, Colorado, to develop new siting rules.
8/11/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Denver City Council approved a one-year moratorium on new data center construction on Monday while the city prepares a study and working group for zoning, energy, and cooling regulations.
5/19/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Denver City Council unanimously approved a one-year pause on new data center construction starting May 21, exempting operating facilities and permitted projects.
5/19/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Broomfield City Council approved an 18-month moratorium on new data centers in Colorado on Tuesday night to complete a regulatory review before code adoption.
7/12/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Minneapolis City Council voted 8-5 in May to pause data center development from July through November pending environmental and fiscal impact review.
7/12/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Aurora City Council rejected a six-month data center construction moratorium Monday in Aurora, Colorado, while approving standards addressing zoning, water use, and development impacts.
8/11/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Lochbuie Town Council approved a five-year moratorium on new and expanded data centers in the Colorado town after residents raised water, noise, and land-use concerns.
8/6/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Monument, Colorado town council approved a six-month ban on new data center applications on Monday to update land development code rules.
7/21/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Interesting
Lochbuie residents urged a three-year data center moratorium at a city council meeting before a July 21 vote.
7/24/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Ava, Missouri aldermen discussed a one-year moratorium on new data center and high density computing applications during a June 23 public meeting.
7/4/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Minneapolis City Council approved a five-month moratorium on large new data centers, sending the ordinance to Mayor Jacob Frey for review.
6/28/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Minneapolis City Council approved a five-month data center moratorium pending regulatory review of environmental, energy, and public safety impacts.
6/25/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Aurora City Council rejected a six-month data center construction moratorium and ordered new cooling and neighborhood-buffer rules within 35 days in Aurora, Colorado.
8/12/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Aurora Councilmember Amy Wiles held a public listening session on data center rules after residents raised water and cooling concerns tied to AI-driven growth.
7/6/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Denver City Council unanimously approved a one-year data center construction moratorium after community testimony Monday night in Colorado|Denver.
5/19/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Denver residents pressed City Council ahead of a Monday vote on a temporary moratorium on new data center projects, citing health, dust, generator emissions, and water and grid impacts.
5/17/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Additional
Larimer County commissioners in Colorado plan a July 13 vote on a six-month extension of a moratorium on new data center permits after public opposition and missing zoning standards were reported.
6/30/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General