Logan County residents, commissioners debate infrastructure additions 

STERLING, Colo – The plains that historically fed livestock and grew grains for people may house a variety of technology in the future. 

Not everyone approves of the decisions. 

The Logan County Commissioners met Tuesday morning to discuss regulations on data storage facilities, battery storage facilities and solar energy collection locations. 

Several people expressed concerns about the county’s history in farming and ranching, and the impact these industries might have. Janson Santomaso said there are thousands of agricultural acres are lost each year. 

“In this country, we lose 730,000 acres of farm ranch land a year. Denver alone has just under 20,000 acres of vacant land, rundown buildings. Why are we not trying to put these solar panels on top of these skyscrapers and these vacant lands in the city, on stadiums. There’s acres and acres that these could be put up there,” Santomaso said regarding solar collection panels. 

Darrel Wagner and his wife Buryl also spoke. He stressed the heritage of Logan County, and their concern with the impact of some potential new enterprises in Logan County. Darell Wagner said he is very concerned about what these industries would do to rural Logan County. 

“This 25 yards, 50 yards ... This is ranch country! This is ranch country! Think about it,” Darrell Wagner said. 

He also questioned what is more important, economic development or maintaining the county’s farm and ranch history. He questioned why one family was approached and others in the region were not. 

Jacob Thiessen later confirmed a developer met with his family. 

“We live out in northwest Logan County. Our family was approached by a project developer for a data center, and we’ve been in discussion with them to sell or lease our farm in the event that they built a facility out there,” Thiessen said. 

He said the county is trying to prepare for when a company does show interest in Logan County. 

“As far as the regulations and stuff here at the county, it’s you know, they’re trying to get regulations in place around these sort of facilities,” he said. 

Thiessen said he is aware some people are not supporting the data center concept.

Tuesday morning, the commissioners said no company has submitted an application for a solar, battery storage or data storage facility. Regulations approved include noise generated by a facility, distance from an occupied home and requirements should a facility close.