The Daily Sun-Up A big fight over data centers & Questions around the search for new CSU chancellor
Feb 25, 2026
A fast-growing fight over data centers, including local moratoriums, power and water concerns, and competing bills on tax breaks and clean energy. A contested search for a new CSU chancellor, with debate over an internal-only process, timeline quirks, and questions about shared governance. Reporters point listeners to ongoing coverage and follow-up reporting.
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Data Centers Cluster In Disadvantaged Neighborhoods
- Data centers concentrate heavy environmental and social costs in already burdened neighborhoods like North Denver's Globeville, Elyria, and Swansea.
- Michael Booth describes existing industrial uses there and a new CoreSite facility creating industrial blocks amid parks and homes.
Data Centers Are Extremely Energy Intensive
- Data centers demand massive electricity and often water for cooling, driving large energy consumption tied to cloud services and AI.
- Michael Booth notes stacks of servers heat quickly, sometimes need water cooling, and the chips themselves consume most power.
Data Centers Deliver Few Long-Term Local Jobs
- Economic benefits of data centers are limited: large construction jobs are temporary and operating sites employ only a few dozen staff.
- Michael Booth contrasts fleeting build-phase work with the small permanent workforce inside massive facilities.