Overview:

Colorado Springs locals are divided over the proposed Project Taurus AI data center, with many expressing concerns about resource use and environmental impacts.

In northwestern Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods Road could soon be the new home of a controversial new data center project. Since the announcement, residents have voiced strong concerns about what the development will do to their community.

The project, dubbed “Project Taurus,” is spearheaded by California-based AI real estate developer Raeden. The company plans to retrofit the site, which was previously an Intel computer chip factory, then lease it to a new AI company, according to KRCC. 

The city originally gave Project Taurus the go-ahead using an administrative track, meaning it bypassed the need for the city planning commission, the city council, or public hearings. 

Late last month, five appeals opposing the project met the requirements to move forward through the Colorado Springs appeal process. The appeals, some filed by larger groups and some filed by individuals, argue that the city did not conduct sufficient analysis of the project’s potential impact on the city’s water, electricity and the environment.

For this week’s edition of Bucket List on the Street, a series where we ask Colorado residents about the issues that matter most to them, we ventured into downtown Colorado Springs to ask locals what they think of the potential development.

‘It’s a bad idea’

“It adds a lot of risk to our power grid,” said Alan, age 75, from downtown Colorado Springs. 

Earlier this month, The Wall Street Journal reported that AI tech centers were using far more water than they were reporting. Alan is one of many Colorado Springs residents who are worried about how a potential data center could impact the city’s water supply.

“I don’t believe that they are not going to ask for more water in the future…. It’s a bad idea. It’s the wrong place.”

Alan, age 75, from downtown Colorado Springs, said the city is the “wrong place” for the project.

‘I’d want to know more’

Catherine, 28, from east Colorado Springs, has similar concerns about water usage.

“In terms of the use of natural resources in order to run the center, I’d want to know more,” she said. 

In June, Governor Jared Polis announced a statewide drought emergency. As of the week of July 13, nearly 5 million people in Colorado are estimated to be living in a drought area, according to the state’s drought monitor. 

As low water levels in Colorado’s reservoirs continue to cause concern, Catherine worries about what that could mean for residents of Colorado Springs and the surrounding areas. 

“I’d be a little bit concerned [about the project], especially with the state our reservoirs are in,” said Catherine. “I would want to have all of the facts about that.”

Catherine, age 28, wants to know more about how much water the project would require.

Proximity to Garden of the Gods

Water isn’t residents’ only concern about Project Taurus. 

Christine, age 37 from northeast Colorado Springs, also worries about what adding a massive AI data center next to a historic and beloved landmark like Garden of the Gods could mean for the city.

“The proposed data center sounds like a terrible idea, especially being near Garden of the Gods,” she said. “It’s such a beautiful part of town. Why would we want to ruin it with an AI-based data center?”

Christine, Age 37, says the AI facility would ruin the natural beauty of the area.

More town halls

Some residents just want more opportunities to have their voices heard concerning the project and have their questions answered.

Kison, age 43, from Colorado Springs, falls into that camp. He says he’s on the fence about the project.

“It looks like [the data center] is going to consume a lot of resources, as far as the water supply,” he said. “I think we need more information. I think we need more town halls throughout the city to really get the cause and effect.”

A special appeal hearing to address resident concerns about the project is set to take place on July 23 in response to “significant public interest.”

Kison, age 43, wants to hear more information before deciding if he supports the project.

‘What does our community gain from this?

Evan from northeast Colorado Springs questions what residents would gain from a data center that consumes a heavy amount of resources.

“What does our community gain from this?” said Evan. “Who is going to be utilizing this service? Probably nobody in our community. It is literally going to come in and take from this community without giving anything back.” 

Evan from northeast Colorado Springs says Springs residents won’t gain anything from the new data center.

Observed together, these snippets from Colorado Springs residents indicate that community members are not all-in on Project Taurus. Some want more information on the project, while others worry about the environmental impact of such an endeavor.

We’ll see you back here next week with a new edition of Bucket List on the Stre

Sydney McGarr is a senior at Colorado College studying journalism, creative writing and Spanish. She is originally from Nashville, Tennessee, and plans to pursue print and digital media after graduating....

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