AI Data Centre Reverses Course, Sues for Access to Strained Colorado River Water

A 330-megawatt AI data centre in Colorado, described as the largest of its kind in the state, had initially committed to not drawing water from the Colorado River. The developer behind the project has now filed a lawsuit seeking access to approximately 260 million gallons of water from the river. The Colorado River is already a heavily contested water source that serves around 40 million people across the western United States. The move has drawn attention given the facility's earlier pledge and the river's status as a critically stressed freshwater resource. The case adds to a long history of disputes over water rights and usage in the American West.