Weld commissioners approve permit for Global AI data center near Windsor
The first phase is expected to employ about 20 people in a vacant industrial facility and use closed-loop, air-cooled cooling. Construction requires other permits, and future expansions would need another review.
The Weld County Board of County Commissioners voted 5-0 on Sept. 9 to approve a land-use permit for Global AI (Colorado), LLC, to operate a data center in an existing industrial facility near Windsor, the county said. The site is in the county’s light industrial zone district.
The first phase is expected to employ approximately 20 people and would use a closed-loop, air-cooled cooling system. Commissioner Coordinator Lynette Peppler said the project would reuse a vacant industrial manufacturing facility rather than take agricultural land out of production. “This is a really good reuse of resources,” Peppler said.
The application was the first data center proposal reviewed under the county’s Use by Special Review process established for data centers. The Weld County Planning Commission voted 7-0 on Sept. 1 to recommend approval. During the county reviews, attendees raised concerns about water use, noise, electricity, infrastructure and potential effects on the surrounding community.
The approval applies to the plans and conditions in permit USR26-0019. It does not authorize future phases, infrastructure projects or development across the entire former Kodak/Carestream property. Global AI must obtain other required permits and approvals before construction associated with the approved data center use can proceed, and any future expansion or changes would require additional review.