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Public commenters urge Denver to tighten pause on data‑center builds, cite water and equity concerns
Summary
Speakers at the March 2 Denver City Council public‑comment session urged the council to treat hyperscale data centers as a distinct public‑policy risk, citing threats to water supplies, local public health, surveillance and insufficient economic benefits; commenters demanded transparency and opposed tax breaks.
Several residents told the Denver City Council on March 2 that the city’s temporary pause on new data‑center construction must not become a short, permissive step that leaves neighborhoods exposed to long‑term harms.
Harmony Cummins, introduced by the moderator, told the council that "our systems for protecting the people and the environment are failing or nonexistent when it comes to data centers" and warned that "hyperscale data centers will have hyperscale impacts on our water, electrical grid, and utility rates." She asked council members to visit a CoreSite site she cited to see proximity to a nursing home and a park.
The comments came amid a broader pause on new facilities. Cummins said the industry’s growth is not driven by consumer streaming but by surveillance and military‑industry demand, and she urged the city not to "piss away our precious water for tech profits."
Danny Martin, who identified himself during his remarks, echoed concerns about environmental and social risks. He said municipalities should ask "How does this actually help the people of Denver?" and urged city leaders to require transparency about what will be stored or processed on servers, to treat large data infrastructure like a utility if it provides essential services, and to avoid granting tax breaks that protect private profits at public expense. "And for God's sake, no tax breaks," he said.
Both speakers criticized claims that data centers will deliver broad local economic gains without clear evidence. Cummins asked to see the revenue calculations and timelines behind projected tax benefits; Martin urged safeguards so Denver taxpayers are not left holding the bill if the industry declines.
The public comment period does not permit council debate during the session. Council members did not respond during the meeting; the moderator noted members or staff may follow up with speakers afterward.
Why it matters: Denver faces decisions that balance short‑term economic incentives against long‑term environmental, infrastructure and equity consequences. Commenters called for clearer analysis, stronger local controls and transparency about industry promises.
