Your Daily Guide

🖥️ Who Will Craft Denver’s Data Center Policy?

Nearly five months after Denver City Council enacted a one-year moratorium on data center construction, Mayor Mike Johnston announced on Wednesday an advisory board of 26 individuals charged with debating the issue and making policy recommendations. The group features a wide range of experts and stakeholders, including representatives from Xcel, Denver Water, environmental advocates, and the CEO of data center builder Empowercom. The board's first meeting is scheduled for today. Denver’s moratorium expires in May 2027, though Johnston has said it could be extended. [Colorado Sun; CBS News; Axios Denver; Denver Post 🔒; CPR; Newsline]

• Meanwhile in the ‘burbs … Brighton approved a one-year moratorium on Tuesday, just as an application for a 155-acre data center was withdrawn. Thornton and Commerce City recently passed similar bans.
• Colorado Springs delayed a vote on a 50-megawatt facility until next April as critics dominate heated public hearings.
• Weld County residents are circulating petitions to force a public vote on a ban and to require voter approval for future data centers, after officials approved permitting for what could become the largest data center statewide.
• Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, who cast the deciding vote against a moratorium on Aug. 11, came out swinging against a proposed 860,000-square-foot facility last week, saying it “must be stopped,” though he says he’s open to building facilities further away from residents (While Aurora’s proposed moratorium went down, Aurora City Council did enact a ban on data centers using evaporative cooling and required setbacks from homes).

🚃 Blame Claimed for Passenger Rail Ballot Mistake

Following up on yesterday’s coverage of ballot issue 7A, which would increase sales tax to help expand Front Range passenger rail service, we’ve now learned how many people were affected by the mix-up that led to the question appearing on ballots belonging to ineligible voters, and who has taken responsibility:

• About 800,000 voters outside the recently adjusted boundaries of the Front Range Passenger Rail District mistakenly received the tax-increase question. If any of them fill in a bubble to try to vote on 7A, their vote won’t count.
• FRPRD General Manager Sal Pace took responsibility, saying that his team should have contacted county clerks to verify their understanding of the new borders, though it wasn’t required by state law. [9News]

🍣 Safeway Out, Sushi Shop In

A buzzy Japanese supermarket chain is planning its Colorado debut in a former Safeway at 12200 E. Mississippi Ave. in Aurora. Hashi Market, a two-year-old brand based in New York, has been noted for its “hip vibe” and viral sushi demonstrations on TikTok. Existing stores offer sushi and sashimi, catering, and a department for Asian essentials. No opening date has been set and renovations for the property haven’t begun. [Denver Business Journal 🔒]

🧀 A Cheesy New Ethics Complaint at DIA

For the second time this year, Denver’s Board of Ethics has addressed a complaint about excessive or inappropriate spending at Denver International Airport. This time, airport officials were found to have spent more than $21,000 on a retirement party for a departing executive, including nearly $3,000 on a "cheese and sausage display." The Ethics Board specifically described the choice to purchase alcohol for the party from an airport vendor “inappropriate, if not an actual violation of the Code of Ethics.” [CBS]

• Why does this keep happening? Producer Olivia Jewell Love and contributor Michelle Jackson dig into this ethical quagmire and DIA’s history of questionable spending on today’s episode of the podcast 👇

⚽ Premier League Rolling Up

Footy fans rejoice: Union Station is set to host a free 2-day festival for the world’s most-watched sports league this weekend. Attendees can expect match broadcasts, meet and greets, and exclusive merch. Saturday morning kicks off bright and early (5:30am 😴) with Arsenal vs. Leeds United. Other early-birds should keep an eye out for road closures, parking restrictions, and limited access to the station according to RTD. [Denver Gazette; Denver Post 🔒]