Rocky Mountain Voice

Tag: Economic development

Colorado Springs Bucks State Trend on Data Centers With Project Taurus Approval
The Denver Gazette, Approved, State

Colorado Springs Bucks State Trend on Data Centers With Project Taurus Approval

By Alexander Edwards | The Denver Gazette Data centers have been thrust into the limelight in the past 12-18 months as more companies seek to build them while concerns grow about their use of natural resources. That’s led some Colorado communities to reject data centers, while others welcome them in hopes of economic gains. As Colorado Springs forges ahead with Project Taurus, a planned AI data center being built in an old computer chip manufacturing facility at 1615 W. Garden of the Gods Road, other locations in Colorado have imposed temporary moratoriums on data centers. Larimer County imposed a moratorium on data centers that expires on Aug. 25. On May 18, the Denver City Council unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on new dat...
GOP Divided As Wyoming Weighs Coal Future And Data Center Growth
Cowboy State Daily, Approved, National

GOP Divided As Wyoming Weighs Coal Future And Data Center Growth

By: Clair McFarland | Cowboy State Daily Wyoming’s coal sector is startled at Republican candidates who oppose data centers. Industry leaders say the revival of coal is driven by demand for energy from data centers. "It's frustrating," said Travis Deti, of the Wyoming Mining Association. Wyoming’s coal sector is startled at Republican political candidates who oppose the data center buildout. Data centers are large warehouses full of servers that power parts of the internet and, increasingly, artificial intelligence (AI). Wyoming has between 20 and 30 operational data centers. President Donald Trump has touted the sector’s expansion as part of a coal industry revival, and part of beating China in a technology advancement race. Many Wyoming Republica...
Longmont Approves Data Center Restrictions to Safeguard Power and Water
DENVER7, Approved, Local

Longmont Approves Data Center Restrictions to Safeguard Power and Water

By: Maggie Bryan | Denver7 Longmont City Council voted 6–1 Tuesday night to ban hyperscale data centers, capping facilities at 5% of regional grid capacity or 100 megawatts, whichever is lower. LONGMONT, Colo. — Longmont is drawing a line against hyperscale data centers, passing an ordinance Tuesday night that sets limits on facility energy consumption to protect the city's power grid, water supply, and neighborhoods from impacts seen elsewhere across the country. In a 6-1 vote, Longmont City Council passed a city ordinance capping data center energy usage at either 5% of the region's grid capacity or 100 megawatts, whichever is lower. City staff said 100 megawatts is enough to power between 10,000 to 30,000 homes on a hot summer day. Longmont joins a growing ...
Colorado needs a smarter answer on data centers than yes or no
ScottKJames.com, Approved, Commentary, State

Colorado needs a smarter answer on data centers than yes or no

By Scott James | Commentary, Scott's Sheet Colorado can welcome data centers, but only with honest math on water, power, rates, and who pays when the press release meets the utility bill. Most normal people do not wake up worried about data centers. They wake up worried about the mortgage, the water bill, the power bill, the kids, the roads, and whether the internet will freeze right as the Broncos line up on fourth and short. Then somebody says “data center,” and the room divides almost immediately. One side acts like every giant project is economic manna from heaven. The other side acts like a server farm is Mordor with better landscaping. Somewhere between NIMBY and corporate shill, there is a principled yes. Colorado ought to find it. Big Pivots argues that...
Bandimere unveils vision for massive new racing destination near Hudson
Competition Plus, Approved, State

Bandimere unveils vision for massive new racing destination near Hudson

By Bobby Bennett | Competition Plus John Bandimere spent more than 60 years helping build one of the most recognizable drag strips in America. Now he’s preparing to build something that, in his mind, isn’t really a drag strip at all. That’s the part many people don’t understand.The next Bandimere Speedway will have a quarter-mile. It will have grandstands. It will have race cars, race fans and many of the features people associate with one of drag racing’s most respected facilities. What it won’t be is Thunder Mountain. “We’ll never be able to replace it,” Bandimere said. “We can do a lot of things that’ll make it to where the new place will have a good feel, but you never can replace it.” For years, racers and fans gathered at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colorado, w...
Buying American is about more than the price tag
Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, National, Top Stories

Buying American is about more than the price tag

By Karen Post | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice This year, our country turns 250. Anniversaries are not just markers of time — they are moments of reflection. What kind of America do we want to be for the next 250 years? My answer is simple: one that invests in its own prosperity. I am a 65-year-old serial entrepreneur who recently secured a license with America250 and Freedom250, to produce a line of American Prosperity Keepsakes. The prosperity pillow is our hero product. The concept of prosperity pillows isn’t new. They’ve existed in cultures for thousands of years, often tied to symbols of luck and fortune. My version is different — distinctly American.  This pillow is not about luck. It is about grit, creativity, and the relentless pursuit of the American D...
Northern Colorado Leaders Warn Power Shortage Could Slow Growth
CBS Colorado, Approved, Local

Northern Colorado Leaders Warn Power Shortage Could Slow Growth

By: Dillon Thomas | CBS Colorado Rapid growth across parts of Northern Colorado is colliding with a growing challenge — being able to access enough electricity to support new homes and businesses. Local leaders in Greeley say demand for power has increased significantly in recent decades. This is as technology becomes more integrated into everyday life, and it creates pressure on an electric grid that is struggling to keep pace with population growth and development. "We are growing pretty rapidly," said Don Threewitt, interim community and economic developer for the city of Greeley. Threewitt said the state's electric demand has shifted dramatically in the last decade, as residents rely more heavily on technology. From smartphones and electric vehicles to incre...
Colorado loses businesses at one of nation’s highest rates, new report finds
Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

Colorado loses businesses at one of nation’s highest rates, new report finds

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice Colorado residents have spent years watching prices climb while business groups warn that operating in the state is becoming harder. A new report adds another layer of data to those concerns. Colorado ranked near the bottom nationally for net business establishment growth in 2024 and recorded the nation’s worst employment losses tied to business openings and closures, according to a new analysis from the Common Sense Institute. While most states added businesses and jobs last year, Colorado was one of only six states to lose ground in both categories, joining Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Oregon and Washington. Researchers pointed to high business costs and weakening confidence in Colorado’s economic outlook as growing warni...
Colorado loses jobs as nearly 100 companies exit, business leaders demand change
CBS Colorado, Approved, State

Colorado loses jobs as nearly 100 companies exit, business leaders demand change

By Shaun Boyd | CBS Colorado Colorado is losing businesses and jobs at an alarming rate. Now, the ones who've stuck around are calling on state leaders to make changes before things get even worse. The Colorado Chamber of Commerce has been sounding an alarm for years about excessive regulation and, last year, more people moved out of Colorado than into the state. The chamber says companies are also relocating out-of-state. It released data showing, since 2019, 98 companies have either left the state, expanded elsewhere, or scrapped plans to move here. That's resulted in more than 13,000 lost jobs. Since 2022, Colorado has also had a net loss of 34 public company headquarters. Some of the states seeing gains from Colorado's losses included Texas, California a...
She moved her company to Colorado: Seven months later she decided to leave
Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

She moved her company to Colorado: Seven months later she decided to leave

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice Heather Florio didn’t move her company to Colorado for a short stay. When she arrived in early 2025, she thought she was putting down roots. “We came here… at the beginning of January, 2025 with anticipation of this being our permanent home.” About seven months in, she said the company was having to leave. “We found out that some laws had changed here in the state of Colorado,” Florio said. “Specifically regarding tax thresholds. We’re looking at double the amount of taxes if we stay here. We are unfortunately having to leave my home state.” Florio described that decision in a video from the Southern Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce, which was shared with RMV by the Colorado Chamber. https://youtu.be/J0BkXb59iPs?si=du...

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