Colorado’s federal lands aren’t just landscapes; they hold generations of intertwined histories, culture, stewardship and resilience. They connect us to water, to the land and to one another. They’re not separate from our communities, economies,= or our climate goals; they are the foundation.

That’s why a new federal proposal to build artificial intelligence infrastructure on federal lands should concern all of us, not just for what it proposes but for what it omits.

In April, the U.S. Department of Energy issued a Request for Information (RFI) on plans to fast-track the construction of AI data centers and related energy infrastructure at 16 federally managed sites, including the National Renewable Energy Laboratory outside Boulder. NREL has long been a hub for clean energy innovation and scientific leadership, but leveraging its proximity to federal lands for rapid AI infrastructure raises serious questions about how we balance technological progress with environmental stewardship.

Just days after the RFI was released, President Trump signed a federal memorandum directing agencies to “streamline” the environmental permitting process for technology-related construction. This directive, paired with Trump’s public statements vowing to “expedite all necessary permits” for private AI development, reflects a deliberate effort to push infrastructure forward with fewer checks, faster timelines and limited public input.

That means it’s up to us to ask questions and demand that this expansion not follow the same extractive playbook that communities like ours have long been left to clean up.

AI data centers consume extraordinary amounts of electricity — sometimes more than entire towns. They can require millions of gallons of water per day for cooling, much of it potable. In a state already facing deep drought and growing wildfire risk, the idea of diverting drinking water for private data infrastructure should give us pause.

There’s also the matter of who pays. Data centers are often billed at the same utility rate as households, despite consuming vastly more energy. As a result, working families may be subsidizing corporate infrastructure through higher monthly bills as tech companies negotiate discounts behind closed doors.

The environmental costs are just as concerning. Some data centers produce hazardous waste, from cooling systems that can release mercury and lead, to energy use that strains already fragile resources. Certain proposed sites may even be co-located with small modular nuclear reactors, technologies that are still under debate for their safety and long-term waste management.

What we’re seeing is a familiar pattern: combining outdated infrastructure with flashy, untested solutions. It may be marketed as progress, but when these decisions are rushed, the risks increase, and local communities are left to bear the consequences.

This isn’t just a theoretical concern. These are environmental and public health decisions that will shape Colorado’s future. And yet, there has been little public conversation about who gets to decide or what safeguards will be in place to protect our land, water and people.

Here’s what we need:

• Full compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and transparency with state environmental reviews and permitting processes, before development begins;

• Protecting households from unfair rate hikes and public subsidies for corporate utility infrastructure development;

• Safeguarding water resources, particularly in drought-affected areas and those near drinking water supplies;

• Engaging local communities and Tribal nations in every stage of planning and siting.

This isn’t about being anti-technology. It’s about asking better questions: Who benefits? Who decides? And who’s left with the consequences?

In Colorado, we continue to lead the West and challenge the status quo when it comes to stewarding our lands and waters. That means progress must look different here. It must be community-informed, ecologically sound and rooted in public accountability.

As we welcome the future, Colorado has the opportunity and responsibility to set a gold standard for how innovation and environmental integrity can coexist: with foresight, stewardship and rigorous accountability.

Chela Garcia Irlando is the Executive Director of the Next 100 Coalition. Irlando lives in Denver.