LWVCO Climate Emergency Task Force: Data Centers and Their Environmental Impact - 4 PM MT
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LWVCO CLIMATE EMERGENCY TASK FORCE:
DATA CENTERS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT SERIES
SESSION 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE DATA CENTER LANDSCAPE
THURSDAY, AUGUST 20 AT 4:00 PM ONLINE
The LWV of Colorado Climate Emergency Task Force presents a four part series online on Data Centers in Colorado.
Data centers have quietly become one of the defining infrastructure stories of our time. As demand for cloud computing, streaming, and artificial intelligence continues to accelerate, these facilities are expanding at a remarkable pace, bringing with them significant questions about energy use, water consumption, emissions, and the communities that live alongside them. This four-part series takes a closer look at the environmental footprint of data centers, the policies shaping their growth, and what it all means for the people and places affected.
The presentations will cover:
- Session 1: The Data Center Landscape and Its Legislation
August 20, 2026 at 4:00 PM online
We start with the fundamentals: what data centers are, why they're multiplying so quickly, and the regulatory frameworks (or lack thereof) currently governing their development. This session lays the groundwork for understanding how policy has kept pace, or fallen behind, the industry's growth.
- Session 2: Impactful Issues, Mitigation, and a Look to the Future
September 17, 2026 at 4:00 PM online
Here we dig into the core environmental challenges: energy demand, water usage, carbon emissions, and land use. We'll also examine the mitigation strategies being deployed today, from renewable energy sourcing to more efficient cooling technologies, and consider where the industry may be headed next.
- Session 3: Effects on Your Health and the Complexity of Oversight
October 15, 2026 at 4:00 PM online
This session turns to a topic often overlooked: the potential health impacts on nearby communities, from noise to air and water quality concerns. We'll also unpack the tangled web of agencies and jurisdictions responsible for oversight, and why accountability can be difficult to pin down.
- Session 4: Case Studies, Lessons Learned, and Practical Takeaways
November 19, 2026 at 4:00 PM online
We close the series by grounding these issues in real world examples. Through case studies from communities that have navigated data center development, we'll distill key lessons and offer practical guidance for residents, policymakers, and industry stakeholders alike.
Free and open to the public.
Register for the first presentation
here.
Location
Online Meeting
USA
Category
LWVCO Climate Emergency Task Force General
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