<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3YzUEn_1Gj20Q0300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3YzUEn_1Gj20Q0300" width="2001" height="1325" ></figure>Developed by Vantage Data Centres, the Trident Data Centre is a proposed hyperscale project spanning approximately 860,000 square feet—making it the largest data centre in Colorado. If approved and built, the facility would be more than three times the size of the state’s largest active data centre: the QTS Aurora-Denver Campus at 278,000 square feet. Though the project is designed to provide large-scale data processing capabilities, it sparked many concerns among Aurora residents living near the building.“We decided we were going to fight as a community, and so we started going to the city council,” Yvonne Pearce (Windler Resident) said. “We’re not going to give up. We’re going to keep fighting, and hopefully it’ll work out for us because we certainly can’t live with a data centre so close to us.”“We were blindsided by it,” Ray Czaplewski (The Reserve Resident) said. “Never in our wildest dreams would we expect our city government to be complacent with putting in a hyperscale data centre literally right next to residential areas.”<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=24FRvt_1Gj20Q0300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=24FRvt_1Gj20Q0300" width="1325" height="496" ><figcaption>A Change.org petition against Trident with over 3,500 verified signatures.</figcaption></figure>These concerns primarily stem from the data centre’s proximity to multiple Aurora neighbourhoods. Windler, The Reserve, and Green Valley Ranch will be the most affected by this new installation. Although these plans were made almost a year ago, residents only learned of the placement in early September. Since then, residents have made it clear they don’t want Trident built so close to residential areas. Nearby homeowners consistently complain about potential noise, light pollution, and a negative visual impact.“For those of us living in a 55-plus community, which is literally just steps from the proposed site of the data centre, quality of life matters,” Jacqueline Peterson (Aurora Resident) said. “I am especially concerned about the continuous noise from cooling equipment, air pollution, light pollution, contaminated water, diesel exhaust, and emissions from backup generators, increased demands on our water and electrical systems, reduction in property value, and long-term effects of placing a large industrial-type facility so close to an established residential community.” Similarly, opposition arose due to the fact that data centres leave enormous environmental footprints. Residents in this area already live in a region exposed to more toxic air pollutants than 98% of Colorado’s census tracts. The proposal includes plans to install 28 industrial emergency backup generators, which would emit large amounts of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter—further worsening the air quality. Likewise, the electricity and energy required to run the facility have major local impacts. Trident is expected to demand 500 megawatts of power, roughly 11 times the Denver International Airport’s projected electrical demand. Water waste will also be prominent, as documents show that starting operations will require an immediate 800,000 gallons of water for the facility’s chilling units amidst an ongoing drought in the Aurora area.“We’re in the middle of the drought, and using this evaporative cooling process for hyperscale data centres in the middle of nowhere is going to be way too much water,” Aaron Futrell (Aurora Resident) said.In response to these concerns, Vantage has released several statements saying it’s evaluating new areas for the project. Matthew Clark (Vantage Senior Manager of Public Policy) submitted a request to the city asking for a 90-day pause on new legislative data centre regulations. Vantage said an evaluation would take up to a year and argued that new zoning rules could “hinder our efforts and lead to a negative outcome for both the residents of Aurora and Vantage.” “In the spirit of being a constructive partner and working collaboratively, Vantage is going to evaluate the technical and operational feasibility of locating the data centre on sites further from residentially zoned parcels, where appropriate opportunities may exist,” Clark said.“At the same time, we continue to advance the current site, which is appropriately zoned for data centre use and remains under review through the city’s established development process,” Mark Freeman (Vantage Vice President for Global Marketing) said. “No decision has been made to relocate the project. We remain committed to listening to the community and collaborating with local leaders and our partners as we evaluate the best path forward.” While some council members argued for the 90-day pause, Mike Coffman (Aurora Mayor) rejected the terms. He pointed out that while Vantage is evaluating alternative sites, a regulatory freeze would leave Aurora’s “outdated zoning codes” vulnerable. Correspondingly, the city administration clarified that a freeze was technically unnecessary because, if Vantage applied for a new location, Aurora’s planning department would treat the application as an amendment to its existing application. Legally, this means the project retains its original filing date.“The answer is a resounding no,” Coffman said. “We need to move forward now with new guidelines that protect residential areas so that we don’t have another Trident situation.”To prevent future data centres, including Trident, Amy Wiles (Council Member) has attempted to implement multiple moratoriums around the sites. However, the Aurora City Council has already postponed these suspensions twice—rejecting a 6-month moratorium on August 10 and failing to pass an indefinite moratorium on October 26th. Though Coffman voted against the cause in August, he later reversed course and voted for it in October. The indefinite pause included motions to suspend rules and reconsider resolutions, but received only six of the required two-thirds majority votes. Despite these setbacks, Coffman stated he plans to bring the motion up again on November 9th.“Let me give notice that I will be bringing back the same motion, with the same resolution, at the next regular meeting of the city council,” Coffman said.Trident is protected by industrial zoning in an Airport District, where data centres are classified as a “use by right.” Essentially, this means a property owner can legally build or use their land for a specific purpose without needing special approval or public hearings from the city council. Vantage meets the baseline zoning criteria, meaning the city could approve it administratively without sending it to the planning commission or holding mandatory public comment hearings. As a result, Coffman has aggressively pushed for stronger local setback regulations, despite his initial permissiveness in August. “We cannot be blindsided by another Trident Data Centre disaster that is unacceptably close to surrounding residential areas,” Coffman said. “We must take a pause to prevent any further requests for data centre applications until we have the right policies in place.”From an economic perspective, Colorado has historically been a mid-tier player in the national data centre market. However, the arrival of hyperscale facilities such as Trident is rapidly changing its economic growth and resource management. Industries view projects like Trident as vital anchors for the state’s economy. For Trident specifically, the project could qualify for up to $38.9 million in city tax incentives over the next 10 years—if it provides 50 permanent jobs at a minimum salary level. Though the facility will receive hefty funding, everyday Coloradans’ monthly utility bills will rise because of the high-voltage transmission infrastructure, which is routinely passed down to all residential and small-business ratepayers across the state.Across Colorado, a political divide highlights contrasting views on data centres. Front Range cities such as Denver, Brighton, and Littleton have imposed moratoriums on data centres to conserve resources. On the contrary, more conservative jurisdictions, such as Douglas County, are embracing them, with a recently approved $19.3 million in tax incentives for a facility in Parker.“The average household has 21 connected devices,” Dan Diorio (Executive Vice President of State Policy and Government Affairs for the Data Centre Coalition) said. “When you start to add them up, it’s laptops, phones, watches, multiple smart TVs, doorbells, thermostats, garage doors, and lights. All of that requires robust digital infrastructure. That’s what’s driving data centre growth.”</div></body>

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Developed by Vantage Data Centres, the Trident Data Centre is a proposed hyperscale project spanning approximately 860,000 square feet—making it the largest data centre in Colorado. If approved and built, the facility would be more than three times the size of the state’s largest active data centre: the QTS Aurora-Denver Campus at 278,000 square feet. Though the project is designed to provide large-scale data processing capabilities, it sparked many concerns among Aurora residents living near the building.

Colorado’s Largest Data Centre: The Trident Project

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Developed by Vantage Data Centres, the Trident Data Centre is a proposed hyperscale project spanning approximately 860,000 square feet—making it the larges

Colorado’s Largest Data Centre: The Trident Project

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