Colorado Springs puts guardrails on new data centers

Driving the news: Mayor Yemi Mobolade's six "community first" pillars aim to protect ratepayers, water resources and neighborhoods.

• Requirements include demonstrating adequate water supplies and paying for infrastructure improvements to avoid jeopardizing the city's water security.
• Projects must also include "appropriate" setbacks from homes, add to the city's tax base, provide opportunities for public input and invest in the community.

What they're saying: "Data centers will not be approved by default," the new standards state.

• "Every proposed large-load project must demonstrate that it can meet rigorous standards."

The big picture: The standards follow resident objections to Project Taurus, a proposed 50-megawatt data center with an estimated $1 billion economic impact.

• Developer Raeden is looking to build the project at an old microchip manufacturing site west of Centennial Boulevard.

What's next: The City Council is expected to use Mobolade's guidelines as it considers Project Taurus at a special 9am hearing Sept. 17 at the Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts.