Editor’s note: This is a breaking story and new information will be posted as it becomes available.

During an interview with Craig Daily Press reporter John Camponeschi on Thursday, Club 20 Executive Director Wade Haerle suggested that Moffat County officials have had preliminary contact involving potential data center development, despite repeated statements at Wednesday’s Planning and Zoning Commission meeting that the county had no application or project to review.

Haerle said several companies are examining locations across Western Colorado, particularly communities with coal-fired power plants that have closed or are scheduled to close. Those sites may remain attractive because transmission lines, substations and other electrical infrastructure can remain after a power plant is retired.

When asked what companies had approached Moffat County, Haerle said he did not know their identities.

“All I know is that they have been approached and that the county staff is working on making adjustments to their different plans,” Haerle said. “But there’s a bunch of nondisclosure agreements. There’s notices of intent and letters of intent and those kinds of things that I’m not privy to.”

Asked to clarify whether governments in Moffat County had been approached and were operating under nondisclosure agreements, Haerle responded, “Correct.”

Haerle’s comments do not establish that a formal land-use application, specific project or binding development proposal exists. They do, however, indicate that preliminary discussions or expressions of interest may have occurred before the commission opened its review of county zoning regulations.

During the Aug. 5 meeting, Planning and Zoning Director Candace Miller said the Planning Department had received no application, speculative proposal or project to review. The distinction between an informal approach and a formal application could explain the difference between Miller’s statements and Haerle’s account, though the nature and extent of any contact remain unclear.

Haerle said Club 20 does not support or oppose data centers.

The organization is planning a Moffat County community meeting to examine potential benefits and concerns, including jobs, training, noise, light pollution, wildlife and economic development. The event is being sponsored by Club 20, Moffat County, Colorado Mesa University and the Governor’s Office of Just Transition.

“This is just becoming a fast-moving issue,” Haerle said. “People want to figure out what’s doable, what’s not doable, those kinds of things.”

The Craig Press is contacting county officials to clarify the discrepancy between the county’s statements and those made by Club 20.