Data centers, the infrastructure underpinning the artificial intelligence boom, are popping up in communities all across the country, including in Colorado. And with each new build, come more questions from residents about what these structures mean for their utility bills and quality of life. At the State Capitol, lawmakers are choosing between two competing visions of how Colorado should approach data centers — with incentives plus some guardrails, or strictly with regulations.

CPR’s Sam Brasch, The Colorado Sun’s Taylor Dolven and KUNC’s Lucas Brady Woods dig into the competing data center bills, one that offers tax breaks to lure centers here and another that requires them to mitigate their impacts. They also discuss the local backlash against these buildings when they start going up in communities, and the politics of it all.

Catch up on our latest coverage:

• CPR News: Colorado bill would require renewable energy for new data centers to guard against rising energy bills
• CPR News: Colorado lawmakers brace for their biggest battle yet over AI data centers
• The Colorado Sun & KUNC: Tax breaks vs. renewable energy offsets: Democrats plan to duel over conflicting Colorado data center bills
• CPR News: Does the AI boom threaten local air quality? A north Denver neighborhood is about to find out
• Mountain West News Bureau: Wired, Wired West: What happens with AI data centers move in

Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Funding for the Alliance is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf. Megan Verlee is the executive producer. Sound design and engineering by Shane Rumsey. The theme music is by Brad Turner. Additional editorial support on this episode provided by Tegan Wendland.

Again and again, President Trump has made it known he has a beef with Colorado, whether it's anger over his presidential portrait that was displayed at the State Capitol or the state’s policies on immigration, artificial intelligence and voting. And it’s not simply talk. Since Trump has returned to the White House, Colorado is losing a military command, and a major scientific research center is in jeopardy, as are hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding.

Democrats say Trump’s actions add up to retaliation. Others, particularly on the right, say this is a situation the state has brought upon itself due to its policies. Regardless of the political lens you look through, Trump has made it clear he doesn’t like a lot of things about this blue state.

CPR’s Bente Birkeland, The Colorado Sun’s Taylor Dolven and CPR’s Caitlyn Kim look at the president’s different actions against the state, how Colorado leaders are responding to those actions and how some are pushing back.

Catch up on our latest coverage:

• CPR News: Policy differences or punishment? How Colorado lawmakers view Trump’s actions towards the state
• CPR News: From a South Dakota stage to a national platform: The winding road that got Tina Peters on the President’s radar
• The Colorado Sun: Trump administration must keep funding Colorado’s poorest families, judge rules in temporary reprieve
• CPR News: House refuses to override Trump veto of Colorado water project
• CPR News: As the Trump administration targets NCAR, scientists rally to defend the ‘mothership’ of atmospheric research
• The Colorado Sun: Trump administration cancels $109M in environmentally focused transportation grants for Colorado
• CPR News: FEMA denies Colorado disaster declaration requests

Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Funding for the Alliance is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf. Megan Verlee is the executive producer. Sound design and engineering by Shane Rumsey. The theme music is by Brad Turner.

In his first seven years in office, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis had a lot of challenges and tragedies to contend with: the COVID-19 pandemic; the 2021 Marshall Fire and other climate disasters; shootings in Boulder, Highlands Ranch, Colorado Springs and Evergreen. These events defined his governorship, as did, what he’s heralded as, some big-ticket policy wins: free full-day kindergarten and universal preschool, cutting the income tax, and wooing the Sundance Film Festival to Boulder. But during his final State of the State address this month, Polis made it clear there’s still work to be done in his lame-duck year.

CPR’s Bente Birkeland, KUNC’s Lucas Brady Woods and The Colorado Sun’s Jesse Paul discuss what’s on the governor’s to-do list, how policy clashes with his own party could play out this session and the pressures from a White House that seems bent on punishing Colorado.

Catch up on our latest coverage:

• Purplish: Get ready for a new legislative session under Colorado’s Gold Dome
• Colorado Matters: Polis talks advancements on Colorado agenda amid federal pressure
• The Colorado Sun: Colorado’s governor gave his 8th and final State of the State speech. We analyzed everything he said.
• The Colorado Sun: House declines to override Trump veto of bill to complete water pipeline in southeastern Colorado
• Tina Peters from CPR, KUNC and The Colorado Sun
• Purplish: A rare veto showdown at the State Capitol
• Purplish: The embattled Labor Peace Act

Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Funding for the Alliance is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf. Megan Verlee is CPR News’ executive producer of podcasts. Sound design and engineering by Shane Rumsey. The theme music is by Brad Turner.

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this episode erroneously stated that Gov. Polis wants Colorado to reach 100% renewable energy by 2030. The governor's desired target is actually 2040, while the state's current target is 2050. The audio has been corrected.