Colorado communities are moving ahead with approvals of massive new data centers, even as new public polling shows citizen opposition swelling over concerns about electricity and water use and noise. … The Weld County Commission is embracing data growth, approving on Sept. 9 a plan from Global AI that would become the largest data center operation in the state. … The commission had earlier this year approved a set of special planning and permitting rules for data centers, banning development in agricultural zones and requiring water conservation plans and adequate power sources. … While many local residents objected to the Global AI approval, the commissioners said they were adding important limitations on the developer, requiring a closed-loop cooling system that needs far less water use than many existing data centers.

Other data center water use and regulation news:

• Politico: Trump’s data center push runs into a new demand for environmental review
• KRCC (Colorado Springs, Colo.): Colorado Springs may approve its first AI data center – here’s what you need to know about Project Taurus
• Capital & Main (Los Angeles): Colorado’s largest data center could rise next to homes — without a public hearing
• KPBS (San Diego): Imperial Valley utility adopts new pricing rules, putting data centers first for power cuts