Global AI has cleared a zoning hurdle in Weld County, Colorado, for a project that could become the state's largest data center.
Weld County commissioners unanimously approved Global AI’s USR26-0019 permit via a 5-0 vote on Sept. 9, clearing a major land-use hurdle for a proposed 41-acre data center near Windsor that could become Colorado’s largest. The decision concluded an approximately eight-hour public hearing.
The approval authorizes the data-center use under the county’s Use by Special Review process. Officials clarified that the ruling does not permit development of the entire former Kodak/Carestream property, nor does it cover future phases or additional infrastructure. Before construction associated with the approved use can begin, Global AI must secure all applicable building, electrical, mechanical, fire and life-safety, utility, environmental, and other required permits. Any future phases or significant modifications will also require separate review.
The proposal centers on repurposing a vacant industrial facility located on 41 acres within Global AI’s 438-acre former Carestream Health campus, previously operated by Eastman Kodak in unincorporated Weld County. According to Colorado Public Radio News, the company acquired the property last year. The broader project is projected to generate approximately 1,500 construction jobs and 200 long-term positions, while the currently proposed first phase is expected to employ around 20 people, according to KUNC.
Commissioners attached several strict conditions to the approval. These mandate the use of a closed-loop cooling system, adherence to established ambient noise limits with continuous site monitoring, and submission of a decommissioning plan alongside a secured bond within six months. The closed-loop system is designed to substantially reduce ongoing water demand compared to traditional evaporative cooling. As reported by KUNC, the system will require an initial fill of approximately 65,000 gallons and annual top-offs of roughly 6,500 gallons.
Regarding power infrastructure, Global AI’s application anticipates a 27.5-megawatt load for the first phase. During the hearing, Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association presented a will-serve letter confirming its readiness to deliver 35 megawatts. For context, one megawatt (MW) equals 1 million watts and can generally power about 800 to 1,000 homes, while one gigawatt (GW) equals 1 billion watts, or roughly enough electricity to supply 800,000 to 1 million homes.
This reporting draws from CPR News, KUNC, and Colorado Newsline. ConstructConnect provides software solutions and market intelligence to help construction professionals make data-driven decisions. A business unit of Roper Technologies (Nasdaq: ROP), which is listed on the Nasdaq 100, S&P 500, and Fortune 1000, ConstructConnect has served the industry for over a century. Marshall Benveniste, Managing Editor of ConstructConnect News and Senior Content Marketing Manager with the Economics Group, leads coverage of U.S. nonresidential construction. With a Ph.D. in Organizational Management and an MBA, he draws on 15 years of prior experience in financial services and specialty construction marketing to translate complex economic and project delivery data into actionable industry insights.