Data centers, the infrastructure underpinning the artificial intelligence boom, are popping up in communities all across the country, including in Colorado. And with each new build, come more questions from residents about what these structures mean for their utility bills and quality of life. At the State Capitol, lawmakers are choosing between two competing visions of how Colorado should approach data centers — with incentives plus some guardrails, or strictly with regulations.

CPR’s Sam Brasch, The Colorado Sun’s Taylor Dolven and KUNC’s Lucas Brady Woods dig into the competing data center bills, one that offers tax breaks to lure centers here and another that requires them to mitigate their impacts. They also discuss the local backlash against these buildings when they start going up in communities, and the politics of it all. 

Catch up on our latest coverage:

• CPR News: Colorado bill would require renewable energy for new data centers to guard against rising energy bills
• CPR News: Colorado lawmakers brace for their biggest battle yet over AI data centers
• The Colorado Sun & KUNC: Tax breaks vs. renewable energy offsets: Democrats plan to duel over conflicting Colorado data center bills
• CPR News: Does the AI boom threaten local air quality? A north Denver neighborhood is about to find out
• Mountain West News Bureau: Wired, Wired West: What happens with AI data centers move in

Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Funding for the Alliance is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf. Megan Verlee is the executive producer. Sound design and engineering by Shane Rumsey. The theme music is by Brad Turner. Additional editorial support on this episode provided by Tegan Wendland.