AI data center planned in Weld County: what this means for developers, GCs, and CRE teams
Global AI has purchased 438 acres for $15.6M at the former Carestream Health site (2000 Howard Smith Ave W, between Windsor and Greeley) with plans to bring an AI-powered data center online as early as this year. At the same time, Colorado lawmakers are weighing House Bill 1030, which would give qualifying data centers a full state sales tax exemption for 20 years and create a new Colorado Data Center Development Authority.
County officials say water supply won't be a blocker. The developer has initiated demolition permits for interior work and is targeting partial operations by year-end, even as formal site plans are still pending.
The incentive package: why it matters for pro formas
HB 1030 would provide long-term sales tax relief on qualifying expenditures and centralize oversight under a dedicated authority. To qualify, operators must invest at least $250M within five years, hire full-time employees within two years, and commit to water stewardship and energy efficiency standards.
For owners and GCs, this changes purchasing strategies, timelines, and bid packaging. Align eligible equipment buys and major MEP packages with the exemption window to protect margins and sharpen bids.
Colorado General Assembly will hear the bill in the House Energy and Environment Committee on Feb. 12.
Project snapshot
- Site: 438 acres at the former Carestream Health property, Windsor-Greeley corridor.
- Status: Interior demolition permits underway; formal site plan applications forthcoming.
- Timeline: A portion of the facility could be online by year-end if approvals and utilities align.
- Jobs: Estimated 1,500 construction jobs during buildout; 40-60 permanent roles initially, up to ~100 at maturity.
Local signals and policy context
"Data centers are the backbone of the current economy," said Dan Diorio of the Data Center Coalition, citing Colorado's access to affordable, clean, reliable energy and a skilled workforce. County planning leadership frames the project as a way to diversify Weld County's tax base beyond cyclical oil and gas.
County officials also point to a stable property-tax stream that can support core services and infrastructure over time. Legislative sponsors say the bill is about jobs, investment, and keeping Colorado competitive.
Water and cooling: what to expect in permitting
Global AI says it plans to use liquid cooling with water recirculation, resulting in minimal annual water loss compared to conventional systems. County staff will evaluate water impacts through the formal site plan and permits process, but preliminary discussions point to usage on par with a single-family home footprint for the cooling loop.
This approach can shorten approval cycles if documentation clearly shows blowdown rates, make-up volumes, and monitoring. Bring heat-reuse options and measurable efficiency targets to the table to strengthen the case.
What builders, trades, and CRE teams should plan for
- Entitlements and jurisdiction: The site sits between Windsor and Greeley and has been part of recent planning discussions, including Greeley's three-mile plan. Expect close coordination on access, utilities, and service boundaries.
- Power first: Begin interconnection studies early. Data halls require large blocks of capacity, a new or expanded substation, backup generation, and emissions permitting. Long-lead gear (transformers, switchgear, gensets) will drive the schedule.
- Fiber and routes: Design for diverse, carrier-neutral paths and dual meet-me rooms. Lock in conduit and crossings before major sitework.
- Phasing: Fast-track design-build with clear milestones to open initial halls while later phases proceed. Prefabrication and modular skids (CDUs, UPS, switchboards) can compress timelines.
- Water stewardship: Document WUE targets, reclaim loops, and blowdown handling. Confirm rights, taps, and metering. Include make-up water redundancy.
- Envelope and structure: Consider tilt-up or precast for speed and thermal performance. Plan heavy roof or mezzanine loads for MEP racks if needed.
- Security and site planning: Controlled perimeters, crash-rated gates, 24/7 access control, and vehicular standoff. Coordinate fuel storage setbacks and acoustic treatments for generators.
- Procurement strategy: Sequence major purchases to maximize the proposed tax exemption if HB 1030 passes. Track certificates and vendor compliance.
- Workforce: Staff for MEP-heavy scopes and 24/7 commissioning windows. Safety, clearances, and live-system work will be constant.
Market implications for land and industrial
A successful build will validate the Windsor-Greeley corridor for future high-density compute, pulling through demand for power, fiber, and industrial-zoned land. Expect ripple effects in substation upgrades, carrier investment, and supporting trades.
Owners near high-capacity lines and dark fiber should reassess parcel positioning, easements, and entitlements. Brokers can pitch aggregation plays where assembly unlocks infrastructure scale.
Next steps and how to engage now
- Coordinate with county planning on pre-application meetings and expected submittals.
- Start utility pre-design with the serving power provider; initiate load letters and interconnection queues.
- Lock long-lead equipment orders and reserve factory slots for switchgear, UPS, transformers, and gensets.
- Prequalify trades with data center experience (commissioning, controls, specialty electrical).
- Prepare community engagement materials focused on water, noise, traffic, and tax base benefits.
For teams stepping into AI-heavy facility work and looking to level up their staff's fluency with AI concepts that drive these projects, see Complete AI Training - courses by job.
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