The rules on data centers in Colorado
1 data center moratorium on file in Colorado, alongside 1 tracked policy event in the state. 1 interconnection deadlines bind projects in this state. As of 15 September 2026.
In plain words
Colorado has paused or restricted new data centers in at least one place. That is a decision by a government, not by us — the rulings are listed below with links. See where they are in Colorado, or check your own address.
Decisions on file
1
bans, new charges, siting rules
Big new power users
0
none published for this state
Counties involved
25
with power on the waiting list
Who runs the grid here
BHCT, CSU, PRPA, PSCo, SPP, TSGT
read from county coverage
Every decision on file for Colorado
1 tracked
| Date | Level | What happened | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| local | Broomfield, CO: 18-month data-center pause Moratorium while zoning code is rewritten. source | moratorium | in-effect |
Key dates for projects here
no dated windows published
| Queue | What closes | Closes | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|
| FERC | FERC large-load show cause — stakeholder comments on RTO responses Comments on the six RTO/ISO responses to the FPA section 206 show-cause orders of 18 June 2026 (PJM EL26-67, SPP EL26-68, NYISO EL26-69, MISO EL26-70… | No date published yet | unconfirmed source |
| FERC | FERC RM26-4 — generic large-load rulemaking Still at ANOPR stage. | No date published yet | confirmed source |
| FERC | Georgia PSC - Georgia Power must file large-load contracts 30 days before execution A standing obligation rather than a dated one: large-load contracts must be filed with the commission at least 30 days before they are executed. | No date published yet | confirmed source |
| SPP | SPP 2028 CPP Interconnection Cluster Study (ICS) application window Definitive Interconnection System Impact Study cluster, post Order 2023 compliance. | No date published yet | confirmed source |
A date marked confirmed was checked by a person against the authority's own tariff, order or form page. Anything else is listed so you know it exists, with a link so you can check it yourself. Full calendar.
Federal decisions, which apply everywhere
6 items
| Date | What happened | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-12 | DOE cancels all three remaining proposed NIETC transmission corridors Lake Erie–Canada, Southwestern Grid Connector, and Tribal Energy Access corridors cancelled; the federal corridor-designation framework is dead. State siting is now the whole game. source | final |
| 2026-06-18 | FERC §206 show-cause orders to all six RTOs on large-load integration (EL26-67 through EL26-72) Every RTO/ISO must justify or reform its large-load interconnection rules. PJM (EL26-67) responses due 2026-08-17; comments due 2026-09-16. Compliance filings will become a primary structured source of load-queue transparency. source | open |
| 2026-03-01 | FERC further guidance on co-located load interconnection (EL25-49 line of cases) Follow-on to the Talen–Susquehanna ISA rejection (ER24-2172) and the PJM co-location show-cause; sets the frame for behind-the-meter data centers at generators. source | open |
| 2026-02-12 | EIA-860S emergency-approved: state air-permit inventory of >1 MW backup generators New collection motivated by AI data centers; backup-genset permits are the best forthcoming government proxy for data-center locations. EIA also running voluntary DC pilot surveys in TX, WA, NoVA. source | in-effect |
| 2025-10-23 | FERC opens RM26-4: Interconnection of Large Loads to the Interstate Transmission System DOE §403 directive forced an expedited rulemaking on large-load interconnection (large load defined >20 MW). ANOPR concepts: 60-day studies, cost allocation, co-location reliability rules. source | open |
| 2024-05-13 | Order 2023/2023-A generator interconnection reform — cluster transitions ongoing All ISOs moved to cluster studies with readiness deposits; PJM transition cycles TC1/TC2, ISO-NE first cluster 2026, CAISO Cluster 15. Reshapes every queue metric on this dashboard. source | implementing |
Which counties in Colorado this is happening in
top 10 by power requested
| County | Waiting to connect | Capacity queued |
|---|---|---|
| Weld County | 37 | 7.1 GW |
| Kit Carson County | 33 | 6.5 GW |
| Pueblo County | 29 | 5.1 GW |
| Lincoln County | 18 | 4.6 GW |
| Morgan County | 12 | 3.0 GW |
| El Paso County | 14 | 3.0 GW |
| Cheyenne County | 8 | 2.6 GW |
| Adams County | 9 | 2.3 GW |
| Kiowa County | 5 | 2.1 GW |
| Yuma County | 7 | 1.9 GW |
Before you commit to a site in Colorado
A county report puts the policy position, the queue and the deadlines for one county in a sourced PDF, with the date each figure was true on every page. The first one is free.
Get a free county report Colorado interconnection queue The deadline calendar