•QTS has applied to install 98 diesel backup generators at its Aurora, Colorado, campus, adding to the 40 generators already in operation
•Permit review reflects growing regulatory scrutiny of diesel backup power at hyperscale data centres
The fact
QTS Data Centers has applied for permits to install 98 diesel backup generators at its Aurora, Colorado, campus, adding to the 40 already in operation.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is reviewing the application. Once its technical analysis is complete, the agency will open a 30-day public comment period before deciding whether to approve the permits.
Community groups and environmental organisations have raised concerns that generator emissions could worsen local air quality. QTS said the units would run only during emergencies, maintenance and routine testing, with emissions-control systems to reduce environmental impacts.
The assessment
Backup generation is no longer a routine facility upgrade but a separate regulatory hurdle. The Colorado permit process treats diesel generators as a distinct environmental issue, alongside land use and utility approvals. For BTW readers, this matters because data centre power infrastructure — from grid connections to backup generation — is increasingly subject to environmental review that can delay or reshape project timelines. As AI campuses grow, so does their reliance on large-scale backup power, making permitting a bottleneck that operators must navigate before capacity enters service.
What to watch
Watch for the Colorado health department's decision and any conditions attached to the permit. If similar environmental reviews spread to other states, diesel backup permitting could become a standard constraint on hyperscale data centre expansion.