Data center construction has become one of the most contentious issues in American local politics. Across the country, some residents are forced to grapple with the fallout of these massive buildouts: excessive water consumption, increasing electrical bills, incessant noise or air pollution from backup generators, all while some developers reap large profits and tax incentives.

So, it’s understandable that the people of Colorado Springs would have serious concerns about Raeden’s Project Taurus, the data center retrofit proposed for the former Intel chip fabrication plant on Garden of the Gods Road.  They want to protect the community’s natural resources and the city’s long-term sustainability.

However, it’s also important to remember that not all commercial developers approach their projects the same way. Through three rounds of public engagement, Raeden’s leadership has responded to community feedback to develop a design solution that directly addresses the major concerns brought by residents. This plan will use industry-proven solutions to comprehensively minimize or eliminate the typical nuisance effects associated with data centers:

The Data Center will drain our precious water resources

Project Taurus will not consume water for cooling. The mechanical system planned for this site will use a closed-loop hydronic system and reject heat using air-cooled chillers. There will be a one-time fill for the system of roughly 200,000 gallons, the equivalent of 15,000 people taking one shower. However, once operational, the building’s daily water consumption as a data center will be far lower than it was as a manufacturing facility.

The Data Center will increase our electrical bills

Project Taurus will be constructed in an existing industrial site. Because the electrical infrastructure already exists, it doesn’t require any additional cost from the utility to connect power to the site. Currently, the site is what the industry calls a “Stranded Asset” ­­­­—meaning no client is currently paying for the existing utility-owned equipment. This equipment will continue to degrade and depreciate even without any electrical load.  When Project Taurus is completed, the utility will regain that large source of revenue, which it can use to reinvest in other grid improvements.

The Data Center will be very noisy.

Project Taurus will include 42-foot sound walls around the chiller yard and expensive acoustic dampening on the chillers themselves. In addition, noise monitors will be located around the site to ensure that the permitted noise threshold is never exceeded. The purpose of these measures is to dramatically reduce audible noise at the property boundary and thus minimize the impact on wildlife in the surrounding park.

The Developer is getting unfair tax advantages and special treatment

Raeden will not receive any tax incentives or special privileges. They will be subject to the same sales and use tax as any other business. It is estimated that this project will generate nearly $950 million in sales and tax revenue for the city over a 20-year period (1). In addition, Colorado Springs Utilities will require a much more stringent energy contract due to the large energy consumption of the site. This new policy is specifically designed to provide insurance against the financial risks that large energy consumers, such as data centers, pose to ratepayers. 

Why shouldn’t Colorado Springs capture the economic upside of the AI infrastructure boom when a developer agrees to such a strict set of guardrails?

Colorado Springs was founded by men and women who knew how to balance economic development and local preservation. They built a city which invited investment and enterprise without sacrificing its natural beauty. Project Taurus offers an opportunity to continue that tradition and welcome the new era of technological advancement—all while establishing a model for community-conscious data center design.

Colorado Springs should seize the opportunity.

Ryan Walsh is a licensed professional mechanical engineer currently focused on data center design and construction. A resident of Colorado Springs since 2019, Ryan spends a lot of time in the mountains climbing and hiking with his wife and two dogs.