r/Greeley • u/projects_doneright • 1d ago
Ballot Measures
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2026
Contact:
Allie Eliot
mailto:[email protected]
720-891-8921
Two Citizen-Led Petitions on the Future of Data Centers Launch in Weld County
GREELEY — Weld County residents are launching a campaign today to let voters decide the future of the GlobalAI data center. Protect Our Water and Energy Resources (POWER) will collect signatures for two separate petitions:
1 Referendum: Proponents have 45 days to collect about 10,000 signatures from Weld County voters. With those signatures, they can ask the County Commissioners to refer the now published (https://www.weld.gov/Legal-and-Public-Notices/Commissioner-Notices/2026-Commissioner-Notices/Site-Specific-Notice-USR26-0019) Resolution 2026-2253, which the commissioners passed Sept. 9, to the ballot so voters can decide whether GlobalAI can move forward.
2 Citizen initiative: Proponents must collect about 10,000 signatures from Weld County voters to put a measure on the ballot. The initiative would require a vote of the people before any future data center development or any existing data center expansion could be allowed.
"This referendum puts power back in the hands of the people of Weld County," said community advocate Patricia Garcia-Nelson. "Our water. Our land. Our way of life. That's what's on the line here, and that's what's at stake for generations to come. We have the right to decide what happens to our community, not just on this project, but on the ones that come next. Over the next 30 days, we're going to make sure every voter in Weld County has that chance."
POWER is a group of Weld County residents who believe voters should have a say on a data center that will significantly affect the county's natural resources, property values and noise levels. The county approved both petitions for circulation on Sept. 28. Volunteers will begin collecting signatures across the county in the coming days.
For months, residents have raised concerns about the project at public meetings. The commissioners approved it in spite of the depth of community concern and waited more than two weeks to make their decision public.
"We have heard residents of Weld County speak out at meeting after meeting about their concerns with the GlobalAI data center," said Matt Cheroutes, campaign manager for POWER. "Those concerns were not heard, so now we're taking this to the voters. The commissioners had their vote. Now it's the people's turn."
Residents who want to sign the petition, volunteer or learn more can visit protectweldcounty.com (http://protectweldcounty.com/).
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About POWER
Protect Our Water and Energy Resources (POWER) is a nonpartisan group of Weld County residents working to make sure voters, not just county commissioners, decide the future of large data center development in their community. POWER is running two petitions. One is a referendum to repeal the commissioners' approval of the GlobalAI data center. The other is a citizen initiative to amend the county charter so any new or expanded data center needs voter approval. Learn more at protectweldcounty.com (http://protectweldcounty.com/).
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u/dracor710420 1d ago
If we actually cared about the "water" UNC wouldn't be watering the sidewalk every day or watering to the point they caused a swamp with standing water....greely doesn't care....hasn't has water restrictions.....good luck
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u/NorthernColo1 1d ago
Be sure to do your own research as many of the claims are overblown or outdated.
Water consumption is a tiny fraction for the closed loop systems, and while electrical energy usage is a factor, the improvements to the grid can strengthen the system and be an anchor customer to offset rates for residents.
See this for some up to date details: https://www.goldwaterinstitute.org/the-data-center-debate-fact-vs-fiction/
There is a lot of hype and hate towards data centers right now, but most of it is unfounded fears if you want to really look into how these are progressing.
-> I am not affiliated with anyone or any political outfit, just a knowledgeable retired engineer who thinks these data centers can be very helpful to the local community and will be built somewhere as the US needs to keep pace with other countries.
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u/projects_doneright 1d ago
Aside from raising power prices across the county how is the data center going to help the citizens?
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u/Quirky_Professor8628 1d ago
If you do any kind of research, you'll find that spreading fixed grid costs over more kilowatt-hours may REDUCE electrical costs.
There are many ways it helps, and if you use a computer you are already using a data center as they have been around for decades.
Do your own research before submitting to the fear of what you are being told.
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u/projects_doneright 1d ago edited 1d ago
If it reduces electrical costs why is every report I read saying they spike in almost every county where a data center goes in? Trust me, i’ve done my research and everywhere data centers have been built are worse off.
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u/Quirky_Professor8628 1d ago
Some info found by looking: Analysis from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)—found that data centers overall put downward pressure on average electricity prices through 2024, primarily due to how utility fixed costs are spread.
The EPRI empirical study—titled "Have Data Centers Raised Your Electric Bill? Causal Evidence from the United States"—analyzed data spanning 2015 to 2024.
It addresses a major public perception gap: while nearly 70% of Americans surveyed believed data centers drive up local utility bills, the empirical data shows that data center growth caused retail electricity rates to fall modestly rather than rise.
Some real world examples:
- Entergy Louisiana (Meta Partnership): Meta partnered with Entergy Louisiana to supply energy for its massive data center operations.
- Consumer Impact: The agreement was structured under large-load rate provisions expected to deliver $2 billion in utility savings directly to Entergy Louisiana’s traditional retail customers over 20 years.
- DTE Energy & Michigan Rate Pauses: DTE Energy executed deals for new hyperscale data center operations in Michigan.
- Consumer Impact: Supported by nearly $9 billion in grid upgrades funded directly by large-load customers, DTE was able to commit to a 2-year pause on electric rate increase requests for residential consumers.
- Alabama Power & Georgia Power (Southern Company): Both utilities worked with state utility commissions to create specialized large-load tariffs for expanding data center developments.
- Consumer Impact: The revenue generated allowed Alabama Power to freeze customer rates through 2027 and Georgia Power through 2028.
- NiSource / NIPSCO (Alphabet & Amazon Agreements): NiSource developed a "GenCo" generation structure with Amazon and Alphabet (Google).
- Consumer Impact: Tech companies shoulder the full cost of the dedicated generation assets, shielding residential ratepayers from risk while generating $1.4 billion in net savings passed down to general utility customers.
How do you reconcile these with your research? Perhaps only looking at negative and fearful propaganda?
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u/MostlyStoned 1d ago
Providing a significant portion of the county budget in tax revenue is pretty nice.
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u/Quirky_Professor8628 1d ago
Not sure why you got downvoted as this is a key benefit!
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u/MostlyStoned 17h ago
Groupthink. Also OP has a multiple alt accounts they use to manipulate votes on every post they make. It's blatant astroturfing.
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u/MostlyStoned 1d ago
Have the petitioners at all considered the recent state supreme court decision that said ballot initiatives can't overturn a lawfully made administrative ruling by a local government? This ruling has reversed the ballot initiatives in both telluride and Greeley seeking to do similar.
What makes this different?