Fwd: Data Center Concerns

[Lorenda Volker]

Hello Commissioners.  The following email was sent to you at the bo...@larimer.org email address.  I'm forwarding it to you for your information and I've also copied Community Development Director Rebecca Everette. 

	Lorenda Volker County Manager
	Commissioners' Office 200 W Oak St, Fort Collins, 80522 | 2nd Floor W: (970) 498-7008 lvo...@larimer.gov | www.larimer.gov

        

          

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Larimer County <w...@larimer.org>
Date: Fri, May 15, 2026 at 10:01 AM
Subject: Data Center Concerns
To: <bo...@larimer.org>

Submitted on Fri, 05/15/2026 - 10:01 from https://www.larimer.gov/bocc/commissioners-public-record-email

Submitted by: Anonymous

Submitted values are:

Message
Dear hardworking Commissioners,

The concerns about data centers keep rising. Thank you for thoroughly evaluating the impact to our precious part of the world. This article about activities in Utah arrived in my email today.

https://www.deseret.com/business/2026/05/11/kevin-oleary-shark-tank-utah-data-center-alberta-canada-water-use-air-quality-pollution-great-s…

Your Name
Betsy Graves

Your Email
bag...@icloud.com

[Larimer County]

Submitted on Mon, 05/18/2026 - 17:51 from https://www.larimer.gov/elected-officials

Submitted by: Anonymous

Submitted values are:

Message

Hi!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I am a Loveland resident and concerned about the data center proposal.

I am not opposed to growth, technology, or economic development. However, I strongly oppose the proposed data center project in our county because the long-term costs to our community may outweigh the short-term benefits being promised.

Modern data centers consume enormous amounts of water for cooling systems. In drought-prone or agricultural communities, this creates serious concerns about:
-Increased pressure on local aquifers and groundwater
-Competition with farms, ranches, and residents for water access
-Future water restrictions for citizens while corporate facilities continue operating
-Long-term sustainability in an area already facing uncertain water conditions
-Our county’s water should prioritize residents, agriculture, and future generations — not industrial-scale server cooling.

Noise pollution and health impacts:

Residents living near data centers across the country have reported persistent low-frequency humming noise from cooling systems and backup infrastructure operating 24/7.

This is not ordinary business noise. Complaints from other communities describe:
-Sleep disruption
-Chronic stress
-Headaches and migraines
-Inability to enjoy outdoor spaces
-Reduced quality of life

Even when noise technically falls within legal limits, continuous industrial sound can still negatively affect nearby residents.

Once built, this impact is permanent.

While research is still ongoing, communities near large industrial data centers have raised concerns regarding:
-Air pollution from diesel backup generators
-Fine particulate emissions during testing or outages
-Stress-related health effects tied to chronic industrial noise exposure
-Heat generation and environmental changes

Residents should not be used as a long-term experiment while corporations profit.

At minimum, there should be independent environmental and health impact studies before approval.

People choose to live in rural or suburban counties for peace, open space, safety, and quality of life.
-Large industrial developments can:
-Decrease nearby property desirability
-Reduce home values
-Discourage residential growth
-Change the character of the community permanently

Many families have invested their life savings into their homes and land. Those investments deserve protection.

Data centers are often marketed as major economic opportunities, but in reality:
-Construction jobs are temporary
-Long-term staffing needs are relatively small
-Many technical positions are filled by outside specialists
-Tax incentives frequently reduce the actual local benefit

Our community may absorb the environmental and infrastructure burden without receiving meaningful long-term employment in return.

Data centers also require massive amounts of electricity.

This raises concerns about:
-Increased pressure on local power infrastructure
-Potential future energy cost increases
-New transmission lines or substations
-Greater dependence on industrial-scale energy production

Residents should not face higher utility costs or reliability concerns to support corporate server farms.

Projects of this scale should not move forward without:
-Public environmental review
-Noise impact studies
-Water usage disclosures
-Traffic and infrastructure assessments
-Open community hearings
-Clear long-term accountability agreements

Citizens deserve full transparency before irreversible decisions are made.

Our county is more than empty land waiting for industrial development. It is a home, a farming community, a place where families have built lives for generations.

Economic growth matters, but not at the expense of our health, water, peace, property values, and future.

Once a project like this is approved, the impacts cannot simply be undone.

I urge, no beg, county officials to prioritize residents over outside corporate interests and reject this proposal unless independent studies can clearly prove that it will not harm our community.

Thank you for your time,
Amanda Brown

Your Name
Amanda Brown

Phone
7604905070

Your Email
abrow...@gmail.com