PROTECTING COLORADO FAMILIES FROM AI DATA CENTER EXPLOITATION
Smart Innovation, Not Corporate Greed
As an AI innovator myself – having built Vurbil’s AI moderation system (Patent holder)- I understand the transformative potential of artificial intelligence. But I also understand that we cannot allow Big Tech corporations to exploit Colorado’s resources and burden our families with their massive infrastructure costs while providing minimal long-term benefits to our communities.
THE CRISIS FACING COLORADO FAMILIES
Massive Resource Consumption
AI data centers are straining Colorado’s infrastructure in unprecedented ways:
- Single facilities consume as much electricity as 175,000 homes
- Up to 300,000 gallons of potable water daily per facility – enough for 1,200 households
- Data center electricity demand could triple by 2028
- Utilities may pass infrastructure costs on to ratepayers
Economic Reality vs. Corporate Promises
Virginia’s experience shows the truth: While 1,500 people may be employed during construction, permanent jobs “winnow to the double digits” once operational. Meanwhile, these facilities demand massive tax breaks and incentives while providing few lasting jobs.
Environmental Justice Crisis
In north Denver, community activists have criticized CoreSite for planning to install diesel generators in an already polluted area near affordable housing complexes and a low-income health clinic. This is environmental racism – wealthy tech companies dumping pollution on working-class communities.
CURRENT LEGISLATIVE BATTLE
Colorado lawmakers are facing pressure to choose between two extremes:
- Corporate Handout Bills: Offering massive tax incentives with minimal community protections
- Industry Wish Lists: Environmental groups call current proposals “rushed legislation” that “fails to provide critical safeguards for utility customers”
Meanwhile, local communities are fighting back:
- Logan County passed a six-month moratorium in October 2025
- Weld County is actively drafting tighter regulations
- Denver formed a stakeholder work group but no clear direction has emerged
THE UNDERWOOD PLAN: SMART INNOVATION WITH FAMILY PROTECTION
1. COLORADO FAMILIES FIRST REQUIREMENTS
No More Corporate Welfare Without Community Benefits:
- Living Wage Guarantee: All data center jobs must pay minimum $75,000 annually with full benefits
- Local Hiring Requirements: 75% of permanent positions must go to Colorado residents
- Community Investment Fund: 2% of annual revenue invested in local infrastructure and schools
- Ratepayer Protection: Facilities cannot increase utility costs for Colorado families
2. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE STANDARDS
Protect Our Communities and Resources:
- Water Conservation Mandate: All facilities must use closed-loop cooling systems using non-potable water
- Renewable Energy Requirement: 100% renewable energy within 3 years of operation
- No Diesel Generators in Environmental Justice Areas: Ban backup generators near low-income communities, schools, or healthcare facilities
- Air Quality Monitoring: Continuous emissions monitoring with public reporting
3. GRID RESPONSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Make Big Tech Pay Their Fair Share:
- Grid Infrastructure Investment: Data centers fund their proportional share of grid upgrades
- Demand Response Participation: Must reduce consumption during peak demand periods
- Energy Storage Requirements: On-site battery storage equal to 4 hours of peak consumption
- Emergency Grid Support: Facilities serve as emergency power sources during outages
4. DEMOCRATIC COMMUNITY CONTROL
Local Communities Decide Their Future:
- Community Approval Process: Local voters must approve any facility consuming over 50 megawatts
- Transparent Impact Assessments: Public disclosure of water usage, energy consumption, and economic impact
- Community Benefit Agreements: Legally binding commitments to local economic development
- Regular Public Audits: Annual community review of compliance and benefits
SUPPORTING REAL AI INNOVATION
Colorado AI Development Fund
Invest in Homegrown Innovation:
- $50 million annually for Colorado AI startups and research
- University Partnerships: CU, CSU, and Colorado School of Mines AI research programs
- Small Business AI Grants: Help Colorado companies integrate AI without massive data centers
- Workforce Training: Prepare Coloradans for AI economy jobs
Distributed Computing Networks
Smart Technology, Not Wasteful Mega-Facilities:
- Incentivize Edge Computing: Support smaller, distributed facilities closer to users
- Colorado AI Cooperative: State-supported network of smaller, efficient data centers
- Green Computing Standards: Reward innovation in energy-efficient AI processing
- Rural Broadband Integration: Bring high-speed internet to every Colorado community
IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY ACTIONS
Day One Executive Orders
- Statewide Data Center Moratorium: 180-day pause on new approvals pending comprehensive policy
- Community Impact Review: Assess all proposed facilities for environmental justice impacts
- Utility Rate Protection: Prevent data center costs from being passed to residential customers
- Emergency Water Conservation: Require immediate water usage reporting from existing facilities
First 100 Days Legislation
- Colorado Data Center Responsibility Act: Comprehensive regulatory framework
- Environmental Justice Protection Zone: No high-impact facilities near vulnerable communities
- Ratepayer Bill of Rights: Guarantee utility cost protection for Colorado families
- AI Innovation Investment Act: Fund Colorado-based AI development and research
THE BIGGER PICTURE: STANDING UP TO BIG TECH
This Fight is About More Than Data Centers
This is about whether Colorado will be exploited by massive corporations or whether we’ll demand that innovation benefits working families:
Corporate Exploitation Model:
- Extract resources from communities
- Demand taxpayer subsidies
- Provide minimal permanent jobs
- Burden families with infrastructure costs
- Pollute low-income neighborhoods
Colorado Innovation Model:
- Invest in local talent and startups
- Require living wages and community benefits
- Protect our environment and water resources
- Make corporations pay their fair share
- Ensure innovation benefits everyone
My Track Record Fighting Corporate Power
For eight years, I took on Bank of America and their army of corporate lawyers. I know how these fights work. Big Tech corporations will spend millions on lobbyists and campaign contributions to buy politicians who will rubber-stamp their extraction schemes.
They can’t buy me – and they know it.
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF SMART POLICY
Real Job Creation
- AI Innovation Fund: 5,000+ high-tech jobs for Coloradans
- Distributed Computing: 15,000+ jobs spread across communities
- Green Technology: 8,000+ jobs in renewable energy and efficiency
- Community Investment: 25,000+ jobs from required local investment
Revenue Generation Without Corporate Welfare
- Community Investment Fund: $100 million annually for local projects
- Grid Investment Requirements: $500 million in utility infrastructure
- Environmental Compliance: $200 million in clean technology deployment
- Local Economic Multiplier: $2.5 billion in community economic activity
Environmental Protection Benefits
- Water Conservation: Save 50+ billion gallons annually through closed-loop requirements
- Renewable Energy: Accelerate Colorado’s clean energy transition
- Air Quality: Eliminate diesel generator pollution in environmental justice communities
- Grid Resilience: Emergency power support during outages and extreme weather
BUILDING COALITION SUPPORT
Environmental Justice Communities
Protect the Most Vulnerable:
- No more pollution dumps in low-income neighborhoods
- Clean air and water protections for all communities
- Democratic control over development decisions
- Green jobs and economic opportunity
Rural Colorado
Bring Innovation Benefits Everywhere:
- Distributed computing jobs in small communities
- Broadband infrastructure investment
- Agricultural technology development
- Energy independence through local renewable projects
Working Families
Stop Corporate Cost-Shifting:
- Protect utility bills from data center impacts
- Demand living wages for all tech jobs
- Community investment in schools and infrastructure
- Democratic participation in development decisions
Small Business and Entrepreneurs
Support Real Innovation:
- AI development grants for Colorado startups
- Technical assistance and training programs
- Access to state-supported computing resources
- Protection from Big Tech monopolization
COMPARISON TO FAILED CORPORATE APPEASEMENT
Other States’ Corporate Giveaway Models
- Virginia: 643 data centers but “most positive economic impact occurred during construction”
- Georgia: Lawmakers tried to pause incentives due to poor results
- Tax Breaks Without Benefits: 37 states offer significant incentives while Colorado offers none
The Colorado Way: Smart Innovation Policy
- Community benefits before corporate benefits
- Environmental protection as non-negotiable
- Democratic participation in major decisions
- Innovation that serves working families, not just shareholders
This Election is About Our Future
We can choose to be exploited by Big Tech corporations, or we can demand that innovation serves Colorado families. We can accept pollution and higher utility bills, or we can require clean technology and community benefits.
I’ve spent my career fighting powerful interests that exploit working families. As Governor, I’ll continue that fight – and I’ll win.
The Stakes Are Clear
- Corporate Exploitation vs. Community Innovation
- Environmental Damage vs. Clean Technology
- Higher Utility Bills vs. Ratepayer Protection
- Few Corporate Jobs vs. Thousands of Colorado Careers
Colorado families deserve better than corporate exploitation. They deserve innovation that works for them, not against them.
My name is Erik Underwood, and I’m running for Governor to make sure AI and technology serve Colorado families – not the other way around. When Big Tech tries to exploit our resources and burden our communities, they’ll find out what it means to face someone who’s never backed down from a fight.
Justice is Blind…But it can see in the dark!
