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Local group member urges moratorium on data-center MOU, citing water, costs and lack of oversight
Summary
Pat Walsh, representing a local group, urged the commission to consider a moratorium on data-center projects tied to an MOU with a company called Atarix, citing water use, fire risk, higher utility costs, and the absence of state regulations to enforce developer promises.
Pat Walsh told the Colfax County Commission he represents a local group called Protect Our Resources and asked commissioners to consider a moratorium on data-center projects while regulations and oversight are developed. Walsh said the Raton City Commission approved a memorandum of understanding with a Denver-based company called Atarix for a feasibility study that envisions in-town phases totaling about 25–27 megawatts and an airport phase of 10–20 megawatts.
Walsh said his group is concerned about water use for cooling if the airport phase draws from the Cimarron River, the potential for higher utility costs, and the absence of state or federal regulations specific to data centers. He said the MOU’s timing and a perceived lack of transparency around a prior February 10 decision had alarmed residents and that some counties around the country have adopted moratoria while citizens push back on similar projects. "I'm hoping the commission will consider implementing a moratorium until there are some regulations in place," Walsh said, and asked the commission to keep the public involved.
County staff accepted the comment for the record; commissioners did not take action at the meeting to impose a moratorium.
