Latest Breaking News

BumRushDaShow

(173,897 posts) Thu Jul 2, 2026, 03:37 PM 6 hrs ago

Polis defends data centers as Colorado juggles energy demands

Source: msn/Axios

10h

ASPEN, Colo. — Colorado's Democratic governor, Jared Polis, defended data centers, touted oil and gas rules and bemoaned climate change in a recent interview in this mountain town.

Why it matters: Colorado has long been a microcosm of the nation's debates on energy, AI and the effects of a warming planet.

Polis, who is leaving office in January due to term limits, has spent nearly eight years governing through each of those fights

.

Inside the room: In an interview with Axios on stage at the Aspen Ideas Festival last weekend, Polis argued the backlash against data centers is aimed more at AI itself than the infrastructure needed to power it.

"Of course, there needs to be data centers," Polis said. "As long as you can show me it's going to reduce our utility rates and be consistent with our water use, then absolutely we want them here."

"There's a general frustration about what the rise of AI means," Polis said. "I think that's what is giving people pause."

10 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Polis defends data centers as Colorado juggles energy demands (Original Post) BumRushDaShow 6 hrs ago OP

With "friends" like these... Miguelito Loveless 6 hrs ago #1

Not to mention water demands..... biophile 6 hrs ago #2

Wait...he bemoaned climate change, but ALSO defended fossil fuels and fucking DATA CENTERS? Karasu 6 hrs ago #3

He's going to have to... 2naSalit 5 hrs ago #4

What happened to him? denvine 5 hrs ago #5

Somebody got to him... GiqueCee 4 hrs ago #6

He was one of the few major Dems who was exposed as a member of Peter Thiel's "Dialog" secret society, though he now Karasu 3 hrs ago #7

WTH is with this guy? bluestarone 3 hrs ago #8

Polis is simply doing what he thinks best somsai 1 hr ago #9

Polis is a DINO popsdenver 1 hr ago #10

Miguelito Loveless

(6,076 posts)

1. With "friends" like these...

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Thu Jul 2, 2026, 03:39 PM

6 hrs ago

biophile

(1,710 posts)

2. Not to mention water demands.....

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Thu Jul 2, 2026, 03:41 PM

6 hrs ago

But what about the water demands?

Colorado is the high desert after all.

Karasu

(2,366 posts)

3. Wait...he bemoaned climate change, but ALSO defended fossil fuels and fucking DATA CENTERS?

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Thu Jul 2, 2026, 04:11 PM

6 hrs ago

It was bad enough that he let fucking Tina Peters off the hook, but this is just blatant, open hypocrisy.

2naSalit

(105,031 posts)

4. He's going to have to...

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Thu Jul 2, 2026, 04:21 PM

5 hrs ago

Move out of the state when his term is up.

denvine

(871 posts)

5. What happened to him?

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Thu Jul 2, 2026, 04:26 PM

5 hrs ago

GiqueCee

(5,139 posts)

6. Somebody got to him...

Reply to denvine (Reply #5)

Thu Jul 2, 2026, 05:59 PM

4 hrs ago

... and he didn't have the cojones to stand up to them. He's history, and so is his credibility.

Karasu

(2,366 posts)

7. He was one of the few major Dems who was exposed as a member of Peter Thiel's "Dialog" secret society, though he now

Reply to GiqueCee (Reply #6)

Thu Jul 2, 2026, 06:39 PM

3 hrs ago

denies it.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/hollywood-peter-thiel-secret-society-1236624737/

bluestarone

(22,599 posts)

8. WTH is with this guy?

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Thu Jul 2, 2026, 06:47 PM

3 hrs ago

His middle name fetterman?

somsai

(266 posts)

9. Polis is simply doing what he thinks best

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Thu Jul 2, 2026, 08:23 PM

1 hr ago

especially best for his state.

We have 50 or 60 data centers already, new ones create 1600 to 1700 new jobs for the 18 to 24 months they take to build. The 150 to 200 permanent jobs are higher than average wages, some figure we already owe 100 thousand jobs to existing data centers. We have tons of tech here, the most this side of CA. They generate lots of tax revenue without using much in the way of roads or schools.

I prefer hiking in the mountains but it's easy to understand what motivates Polis and it's not money.

popsdenver

(2,849 posts)

10. Polis is a DINO

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Thu Jul 2, 2026, 08:48 PM

1 hr ago

He has been pro corporations all along,.......... and now that he is a lame duck Governor, and not running for re-election, he has really shifted pro corporations......Pardoning the election official, is just one of his disastrous decisions......

Reply to this discussion