The Daily Sun-Up Dueling data center bills in the Colorado legislature
Mar 4, 2026
Sam Brasch, CPR News reporter on energy and environment, and Taylor Dolven, Colorado Sun political reporter on state policy, unpack Colorado's dueling data center bills. They discuss community protests, heat and noise inside facilities, water and utility strain, tax incentive proposals, and competing environmental regulation plans.
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Neighborhoods Organize Against Local Data Center
- Residents of Globeville and Elyria Swansea organized a coalition to oppose a Coresight data center being built beside their park.
- They cited neighborhood pollution history, smelter-era lead contamination, I-70 cuts, and fears of diesel generators and water use.
AI Boom Is Fueling A Global Data Center Rush
- The AI boom is driving a global data center building spree worth potentially $3 trillion by 2030.
- Colorado has nearly 60 data centers but far fewer large facilities than states like Virginia, leaving it a prospective growth target.
Data Centers Can Raise Costs And Local Pollution
- Data centers can raise community concerns about noise, air pollution from backup generators, and higher utility bills.
- Studies show unchecked growth could raise wholesale electricity costs roughly 8% nationwide by 2030.