Denver

Power availability in Denver: time-to-power 13.6 months, as of 2026-10-02. Source: DC Hub.

Data Center Market Deep-Dive · 347 words · generated 2026-10-01 from live DC Hub data · DCPI live as of 2026-10-02

This analysis was written on 2026-10-01, when the Data Center Power Index for this market read 50.0. The index is recomputed through the day and reads 52.1 now — the figure above is the live one, and the narrative below describes the market as it stood when it was written.

Colocation lease rates in Denver

Asking rate range (broker report): $155–$175 /kW/mo (250-500 kW (CBRE quoted asking rate, 250+ kW N+1/Tier III)), H1 2026.

Asking base rent per kW of critical IT capacity. Electricity is normally billed separately (metered pass-through), plus cross-connects and one-time fees. Signed deals, term and size change the number. Source: CBRE North America Data Center Trends H1 2026 (250+ kW): Denver $155-175/kW/mo (link)

Denver's data center market hosts tracked facilities totaling 489 MW across a fragmented operator base, with Flexential leading at facilities but no single dominant player. The market's excess-power score of 55/100 signals moderate supply adequacy, while the constraint rating of 40/100 indicates middling interconnect and infrastructure limitations. Recent activity shows developer momentum in the Aurora submarket, though regulatory headwinds—including an extended data center moratorium and generator noise complaints in residential areas—are reshaping project feasibility and timelines.

The CAUTION verdict reflects a market in transition. Excess power at 55/100 means capacity is neither abundant nor scarce; builders can find space, but margins are tightening. More critically, the constraint score of 40/100 warns that even if power exists, buyers face friction getting it delivered. This combination favors operators with existing grid relationships and interconnect queues over greenfield entrants. Acquisitions of stabilized, connected assets should outperform ground-up development, particularly given Aurora's regulatory uncertainty and Denver's moratorium extension signaling extended permitting delays.

Operator concentration remains loose. Flexential's facility footprint is substantial but hardly dominant in a facility market. CoreSite and DataBank (6) round out the top tier, while an Unknown operator controls facilities—suggesting either smaller independents or assets in transition. The absence of tracked M&A is notable and concerning; it reflects either genuine deal scarcity or market opacity. Peer markets like Kansas City show acquisition momentum—Digital Realty's $475 million-plus commitment signals capital flowing to tighter markets—while Denver remains quiet, implying investor skepticism about returns or execution risk.

The regulatory and social environment poses material downside risk. A developer-backed Aurora project faced community resistance, and the Elyria-Swansea generator complaints indicate NIMBYism is hardening around existing facilities. The extended moratorium isn't a temporary blip; it signals sustained local friction. For investors, this means Denver assets will require longer entitlement timelines, higher community mitigation costs, and lower per-MW valuations than markets with clearer regulatory pathways. Buyers comfortable with 18–36 month delays and willing to pay modest discounts for connected, operational capacity should view Denver as a contrarian play; those seeking rapid growth or premium exit multiples should look elsewhere.

JSON: /api/v1/markets/denver/deep-dive · DCPI: /dcpi · Operators: /operators · Updated nightly

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