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Colorado Data Center Intel
Latest data center news, projects, power and policy across Colorado — updated daily.
Recent Colorado data center news
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New U.S. Policies Won’t Slow ‘Fast-Moving’ AI Data Center Industry, Experts Say
Congress and the White House unveiled new federal laws and policy proposals on AI infrastructure in July, notably Congress’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Act and the White House’s AI Action Plan.
Confirmed actions and figures: The White House’s AI Action Plan accompanied announcements of $92 billion in company investments into AI infrastructure; Congress’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ includes the sunsetting of renewable energy tax credits while also adding R&D tax incentives (noted by Tyler Thompson of Reed Smith). Experts cite concrete constraints: data center construction currently takes two to three years, vacancy rates are at record-low and the industry may need two or three times current compute capacity for AI workloads.
Planned initiatives and expressed concerns: The AI Action Plan proposes permitting reforms, enabling building on federal land, and electric grid upgrades; it also signals withholding federal funding from states with “burdensome” AI regulations. Industry voices proposed regulatory and technology responses—streamlining SMR regulation and investment in BESS (battery energy storage systems)—and warned that announced investments will take years to materialize (opinion/commentary from industry experts).
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Data centers seek flexible power solutions for resilience, sustainability
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Accelerating the delivery of tech-focused capital projects
The article by McKinsey authors Bill Wiseman, Matthieu Dussud, Piotr Pikul, and Katy Bartlett outlines strategies to address significant challenges in the global construction industry amid a surge in capital investment.
- Global construction investment is projected at $16.3 trillion in 2025, with major initiatives such as the US Bipartisan Infrastructure Law ($1.2 trillion), EU Chips Act ($50 billion), and Saudi Arabia’s $1.25 trillion capital projects driving demand. The industry faces stagnant productivity, labor shortages, supply chain delays, material price volatility, and regulatory complexities.
- The authors propose three key actions: (1) developing contracting strategies that optimize resource utilization and scope division, (2) assessing risks using frameworks like TEMPO to create competitive bidding and compensation strategies including collaborative contracting, and (3) analyzing market strengths to bridge capability gaps through partnerships and digital technology adoption such as generative scheduling and BIM.
These approaches aim to improve project delivery efficiency, reduce costs, and manage risks effectively, leveraging digital tools and advanced contracting methods to capitalize on the current investment surge in infrastructure and advanced technology manufacturing.
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Op-ed: Saving the Investment Tax Credit is key to American energy resiliency
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Graycor hires construction vet to lead Southwest division
Graycor Construction has appointed Brett Helm as general manager of its Southwest Division based in Phoenix.
- Helm brings 30 years of industry experience to support the warehouse and distribution portfolio.
- Focus areas include advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, data centers, and strategic portfolio growth.
- Graycor highlights Phoenix’s advantage for data centers due to lower power costs and reduced natural disaster risks.
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Key regional projects by Graycor include Elliot Gateway industrial park, Rinchem chemical warehouses, Mlily manufacturing and distribution facility, and SkyBridge Arizona cargo processing site.
The appointment and focus confirm Graycor’s commitment to infrastructure growth in the Southwest region.
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Request for Information on Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure on DOE Lands
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a Request for Information (RFI) to explore opportunities for AI infrastructure development on its lands. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance AI capabilities in the U.S. and maintain leadership in the field. The RFI targets industry input on potential development approaches and operational models for AI data centers at select DOE sites, aiming for operational commencement by the end of 2027. Responses to this RFI are due by May 7, 2025.
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Addressing Data Center Growth Constraints Key to U.S. Innovation, Leadership in AI
The article discusses the growing demand for data centers driven by AI, highlighting that U.S. data centers will account for 6.6% of electricity consumption by 2028. Key limitations for growth include chip supply, tariffs, and electricity reliability. The U.S. CHIPS and Science Act aims to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing which won’t operationalize until 2028-2029. Hyperscalers are exploring power models to manage the increasing energy needs, with a shift towards renewable sources for cooling and power supply.
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Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa. Public Utility Commission Sets Hearing on AI Data Centers’ Impacts on Electricity
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) announced a hearing on April 24, 2025, to evaluate the impact of AI data centers on the state’s electricity infrastructure and economy. PUC Chairperson Stephen DeFrank emphasized the need to protect consumers while facilitating economic growth and technological advancement. The commission will investigate two major data center projects: Constellation Energy’s $1.6 billion restart of its nuclear power plant at Three Mile Island to provide carbon-free electricity for Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services’ $650 million data center purchase near a nuclear plant that will consume energy equivalent to 900,000 homes.
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The Security Imperative for Data Centers in an Innovation-Driven World
The UK government designated data centers as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) in September 2024, acknowledging their importance to the country’s social and economic structures. The EU has defined specific security requirements for data centers in the Network and Information Systems (NIS) Directive. In the U.S., data centers are included in 16 critical infrastructure sectors identified by DHS and CISA under Presidential Policy Directive 21 (PPD-21). Investing in redundant systems and robust security measures is essential to counter growing threats in the data center industry.
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Navigating the Energy Future of Data Centers
The Biden Administration issued an executive order to support the data center industry’s energy needs, requiring the DOE to allocate regions for geothermal projects by Jan. 14, 2025. The order mandates that by Feb. 28, 2025, specific sites for AI data centers be identified to operate by Dec. 31, 2027. Reports indicate that data centers may consume up to 12% of U.S. electricity by 2028, making energy efficiency and sustainability critical. New technologies for cooling and power sourcing are being explored to mitigate energy demands and enhance efficiency.