Denver City Councilmember Paul Kashmann says the city must pause data center development over their massive size, heavy power and water demands, as well as over vague definitions in current zoning laws.
State of play: The plan announced last week with Mayor Mike Johnston calls for a one-year moratorium on building data centers, likely starting this spring.
- It comes as Denver-based CoreSite constructs its latest Denver facility in the Elyria-Swansea neighborhood in part to meet demand for powering AI, an October release from the company states.
Why it matters: Denver’s proposed pause thrusts the city into a national clash over data centers, whose enormous energy consumption is leading lawmakers at every level to challenge their utility.
The big picture: Data centers have existed for decades, but the AI boom has intensified scrutiny of new construction, turning them into a political flashpoint…