Revolt over data center points to rising resistance in Colorado Springs
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Jason Green, COO of Raeden. Photo: Glenn Wallace/Axios
Public opposition to a proposed data center along Garden of the Gods Road overflowed a community meeting Tuesday night, forcing plans for a larger follow-up.
Why it matters: The backlash shows anti-data center sentiment is spreading to Colorado Springs.
Driving the news: Around 180 people crowded into the meeting space for two community sessions Tuesday, leaving dozens more outside.
- Jason Green said his California-based development firm, Raeden,plans to turn an old microchip manufacturing site west of Centennial Boulevard into a data center.
Friction points: Area residents have raised a range of concerns since the proposal was made public a few weeks ago, including:
- Noise and air pollution: The project's power and cooling systems are expected to generate some noise, as will backup diesel generators that produce air and noise pollution during monthly testing.
- Water and energy use: Data centers are infamous for requiring millions of gallons of water and straining local power grids.
- Trust issues: Longtime residents complain of broken promises tied to a chip manufacturing plant and cryptocurrency mine previously on the site.
Some community members also voiced broader unease about the growth of AI-related infrastructure.
The other side: Green told Axios he has never encountered this level of public opposition, pointing to a similar facility he built in Vienna, Virginia.
- He defended Raeden's proposal, telling attendees the center uses a water-efficient design that requires only an initial 200,000 gallons for a closed-loop cooling system.
- He said the center would create 60 to 100 permanent jobs.
- City utility officials added the project's energy demand can be met without raising rates for other customers.
The big picture: Colorado currently lags in data center development, so the Springs project would be considered a win for pro-business boosters.
Context: The Colorado Springs City Council may be especially sensitive to public opinion right now, after a member was recently recalled and a major annexation decision was overturned in the last 14 months — raising the political stakes for projects like this.
Between the lines: Despite the concerns on display Tuesday, the proposal may face fewer formal hurdles than residents expect, since the property is already zoned for use as a data center.
- Green told Axios he scouted the site more than a decade ago drawn by its existing electrical and internet connections.
What we're watching: The project can be approved by city staff after a review period, though it could still be appealed to the Planning Commission and later the City Council.
Zoom out: The fight in Colorado Springs is part of a broader debate over tech infrastructure and AI.
- Denver is considering a moratorium on new data centers.
- State lawmakers are weighing whether to give tax incentives to new data centers or strengthen AI transparency rules.
What's next: Details for the next public meeting haven't been released, but city staff say it will be held in a larger venue.
- Opponents appear to already be organizing.