The Denver City Council unanimously approved a one-year moratorium [Monday] on new data center development in the city, marking a major policy pause as officials work to establish new regulations. The measure halts the acceptance and processing of new zoning permits and site development plans for data centers while Denver drafts rules addressing energy use, water consumption, noise and citing standards. The moratorium remains in place for up to one year, or until the city adopts updated data center regulations. The vote comes despite construction well underway on a data center in the Elyria-Swansea neighborhood that is estimated to use far more water and power than anything currently operating in Denver.

Other data center water use news around the West:

• SJV Water (Bakersfield, Calif.): Desert groundwater agency hears overwhelming opposition to proposed desert data center
• KBAK/KBFX (Bakersfield, Calif.): California data centers raise concerns over water use and limited transparency, study says
• WyoFile: Amid growing concern, data center developers insist they won’t stress Wyoming water