Four Corners Eyes AI Data Centers, Balancing Jobs and Resources

At a regional energy conference on December 12, 2025, public and private stakeholders discussed the feasibility of siting larger AI focused data centers in the Four Corners region. Interest centers on the San Juan Basin where abundant natural gas supplies and existing energy industry infrastructure make the area attractive to operators seeking lower energy costs and proximity to generation. Local operators already serve the market at a smaller scale, including 2210Cortez which provides a local fiber on ramp for regional data traffic.

Speakers and economic development officials emphasized tradeoffs. Large AI data centers typically demand substantial steady power supplies and robust broadband backhaul, and they can consume significant water for cooling in some designs. Regional constraints identified in the conversation included limits on transmission capacity, municipal and industrial water supplies, broadband last mile connections, and rising construction and operating costs that could blunt competitiveness versus traditional data center hubs.

From an economic perspective, the potential benefits are clear. Investment in large facilities can deliver short term construction employment, new tax base and secondary effects for local service sectors. Yet industry patterns show that once built, these facilities often require fewer permanent staff than other large employers, shifting the economic calculus toward property tax gains and contractor work rather than mass long term hiring. That tradeoff was a persistent theme among county officials weighing the proposals.

Land use and permitting emerged as immediate practical questions for Dolores County and neighboring jurisdictions. Existing county land use codes may not reflect the scale or utility demands of AI focused facilities, requiring revisions to zoning, permitting timelines and utility coordination. Officials noted the need to integrate utility planning into land use decisions, including transmission upgrades and water resource management, to avoid unanticipated strain on local infrastructure.

Environmental and community impacts remain central to local deliberations. Stakeholders urged careful cost benefit analysis that includes cumulative water withdrawals, emissions linked to power generation, and long term resilience should energy markets shift. For residents of Dolores County, the coming months will be critical as regional planners, utilities and private developers refine proposals, quantify infrastructure needs and outline the policy changes required to proceed while protecting local services and natural resources.