City HallSaturday, November 7
An outside report gives Colorado Springs 14 ways to handle data centers
The Daily Colorado Springs team
If you've followed the Project Taurus debate, there's now an outside look at how the city could handle data centers. The Romer Institute of Evidence-based Policy, a nonprofit, released its report Tuesday. Mayor Yemi Mobolade asked for it in July.
The report lays out 14 possible policy changes. Four had a high level of supporting evidence and look easy to enact soon. Principal researcher Billy Wynne said the options aren't ranked recommendations.
Four of the 14 options had strong evidence and look easy to enact
| Option | How it works |
|---|---|
| Clearer definition | City Council ordinance in the Unified Development Code |
| Large load rate changes | Utilities rules for some sites under 10 megawatts |
| Public data center list | Plus aggregated utility usage reports |
| Public feedback session | City-run, on data center regulations |
Source: The Gazette
The report says Colorado Springs is in a unique position because it owns its electric, water, natural gas and wastewater utilities, giving leaders more control over rules and rates.
177,000 gallonsof water a day used by four of the city's largest data centers
The report says that's about the same as 996 households.
Source: KKTV
- Cost to the city: nothing
- Zoning gap: data centers have no classification of their own
- Hearings: applications don't automatically trigger a public hearing
- Project Taurus: council postponed its final decision until April 2027
Sources: KKTV, The Gazette