Denver City Council Enacts Moratorium on Data Center Construction Amid Regulatory Review
The Denver City Council has approved a one-year moratorium on the construction of new data centers. This decision comes as the city plans to evaluate potential regulations for these facilities. Data centers, which house servers and storage systems for tech companies like Amazon and Netflix, are essential for services such as email, online banking, and streaming. However, they are also known for consuming significant amounts of water and energy, and generating noise and air pollution. The moratorium aims to address these concerns by allowing time for a comprehensive study and the development of appropriate regulations. A working group, including community advocates, experts, and council members, will be formed to make recommendations on zoning, energy use, and other relevant issues.