Weld County officials approve construction of what could be the largest data center in the state

The Weld County Board of Commissioners hold a meeting about Global AI’s data center project near Windsor, September 9, 2026 – Photo by CPR News

Article By CPR news reporter Cassis Tingley

The Weld County Board of Commissioners voted Wednesday to approve the zoning for what could become the largest data center in the state. The proposal from Global AI has faced fierce community pushback over noise, power and transparency concerns. County commissioners had big questions about Global AI’s application and added several conditions to the agreement before voting unanimously to pass the company’s zoning permit after the eight-hour hearing.

New York-based Global AI purchased the 438-acre Carestream Health site, formerly operated by Eastman Kodak, last year. They are planning to build the 41-acre data center on the property, which is located in unincorporated Weld County near Windsor.

During the eight hour meeting on Tuesday, commissioners questioned the company about the data center’s fit for the “light industrial” zoning district, noise levels and the company’s history of construction violations. Comments from the public and neighboring commercial property owners included water, energy and noise concerns.

After hearing from Global AI, county planners and residents, commissioners added several conditions to the permit’s approval. Those include requirements that Global AI use a closed-loop cooling system; limit noise pollution to established ambient levels and continuously monitor noise from the data center; and establish a decommissioning plan and bond within six months.

Public comment lasted two and a half hours. Just three of the 39 speakers spoke in favor of the project. Many comments included concerns over water, though Global AI and county commissioners assured residents that the closed-loop system Global AI promised to use takes far less water than evaporative cooling data centers.

Though commissioners emphasized that they valued residents’ input, some wondered whether their worries were being taken to heart. Amalia Johnson, who is from Eastern Colorado and has lived in Greeley for the past 15 years, wasn’t sure. “I know we’re speaking,” she said. “We’re… hoping that we’re being heard.” She expressed concern about noise and the data center’s strain on local resources, considering Greeley’s population growth.

Global AI also caught flack from the commission for their lack of community engagement, and Board Chair Scott James pointedly asked Global AI’s Chief Operating Officer Michael Cadigan why they hadn’t yet done any outreach with residents. “Maybe that’s a fault,” Cadigan acknowledged. “But that’s not what we chose to do, and I do accept that as something we should’ve considered.”

After hours of back and forth, the board of commissioners voted at 5:30 p.m. to approve Global AI’s “Use by Special Review” permit.

Weld County requires USR permits for projects that may have a greater impact on the community, which includes data centers built on land zoned for “light industrial” uses. The USR process is more rigorous than the county’s standard zoning process and allows for public comment.

The energy in the courtroom turned tense when Commissioner Pro-Tem Jason Maxey asked Global AI how the county could trust the company after their track-record of violating county regulations. Earlier this summer, Weld County ordered the company multiple times to stop construction after it installed chillers, piping and data center-specific equipment without the required permits. The county issued the company three stop-work orders and one more serious Notice of Violation and Order to Abate.

While Global AI initially appealed those stop-work orders, county officials confirmed at Wednesday’s hearing that the company had dropped the appeal and complied with the county’s orders in August. Officials said county inspectors had confirmed that no additional construction has been done at the site since.

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