|
Colorado - Wed. 05/20/26 |
A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank
|
|
View in Browser
|
|
|
| |
DENVER HALTS NEW DATA CENTERS FOR 12 MONTHS
|
| |
|
|
| |
Denver City Council voted unanimously to impose a one-year moratorium on permits and site development plan applications for new data centers as the proposed primary use. Close to 60 individuals signed up for the required public hearing preceding the vote. The moratorium will take effect May 21 and will include the formation of a working group tasked with assessing the impacts of data center development and crafting policy recommendations in line with current city plans. Because data centers are not specifically regulated within the City and County of Denver and have no specific permitting requirements, city officials argue a temporary moratorium is needed, giving Denver time to develop “thoughtful regulations” that address community safety and equity.
At this time, the CoreSite DE3 facility is the only permitted data center under construction in Denver’s Globeville Elyria-Swansea neighborhood. The new 170,000-square-foot data center is situated at 4900 N. Race St., adjacent to the National Western Stock Show complex, and would not be affected by the new ruling, but the company’s two future sites would be subject to any new regulations that come forth from the working group. Across the country, 69 jurisdictions have implemented active data center moratoriums, according to the U.S. Data Center Moratorium Tracker. At least 25 proposed data centers were scrubbed last year – four times as many as in 2024.
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
SILVER PLUME HAS PROTECTED MORE THAN 3 ACRES OF LAND PER RESIDENT
|
| |
|
|
| |
In the last few years, this tiny historic mining village straddling Interstate 70 has emerged as one of the most conservation-minded towns in the state. The home to 210 residents earlier this month closed a deal for 122 mining claims on the top of Republican Mountain nearby, adding about 350 acres to its 300-acre Silver Plume Mountain Park. So, for every Silver Plume resident, there’s protection for a little more than 3 acres of historic land in the headwaters of Clear Creek. It started in the early 1990s, when the Bureau of Land Management transferred around 3,200 acres to the then-nascent Historic District Public Lands Commission in a deal that included about 600 acres for Silver Plume. In 2022, Silver Plume spent $500,000 on about 200 acres — including 95 of the Jack Pine mining claims — from a family who owned them for generations.
Adding those acres to the town’s mountain park, which spans I-70, permanently removed the prospect of mining or development on the steep terrain inside the Georgetown–Silver Plume National Historic Landmark District. In the past year, the town again rallied its partners — like the Clear Creek County Open Space Commission, the Colorado Historical Foundation and Great Outdoors Colorado, as well dozens of individuals and history and wildlife advocacy groups — to raise nearly $900,000 to buy 122 mining claims from a private owner. The effort was kick-started with $300,000 from GOCO in December. The addition of 350 acres of Taylor-Kennedy mining claims permanently removes the threat of roads and development within the high-altitude parcels where the Georgetown bighorn sheep herd spends its winters.
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
MOUNT BLUE SKY SCENIC BYWAY REOPENING FOR EAGER VISITORS AFTER CLOSURE
|
| |
|
|
| |
After nearly two years away, Coloradans will return to one of the state’s most scenic roads Memorial Day weekend. Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway is reopening ー North America’s highest paved road climbing more than 7,000 feet from Idaho Springs toward the summit near 14,130 feet. Reservations can be booked at Recreation.gov: $20 for vehicles and $15 for motorcycles, plus a $2 processing fee. For bold cyclists seeking the storied challenge, the road is free. Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway had been closed since the end of the 2024 season for construction and maintenance on an upper stretch. The road is said to draw more than 100,000 visitors between May and September. Now those visitors will return to cherished scenes of high-alpine lakes, ancient bristlecone pines, iconic wildlife and endless views across 28 miles.
Visitors will be greeted by new management. Where the U.S. Forest Service had long been posted at the entrance station, Denver Mountain Parks will now be managing reservations and collecting fees, as previously announced. The reservation system aims to control traffic through a capped number of tickets sold on an hourly basis, with 75 percent of those timed slots available to book 30 days in advance. The other 25 percent are made available two days in advance.
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
FACELIFT COMING TO RED ROCKS' DRESSING ROOMS
|
| |
|
|
| |
Red Rocks Amphitheatre is getting a $35.1 million facelift next year to improve the backstage and dressing room areas for performers who entertain some 1.7 million concertgoers annually. The money comes from the Vibrant Denver Bonds approved by voters in November, which earmarked $35.1 million for the expansion project that will see the construction of a multi-story structure, partially intended to solve accessibility issues by performers. Denver issued a Request for Qualifications for architectural and engineering design services last month. The deadline to submit bids is June 3. Construction is expected to begin in November 2027 and run through May 2028. The RFQ centers on improvements to the backstage area, particularly the below-ground dressing rooms and easier access to the stage by performers. The new building will have a parking garage for performers to use and dressing rooms at the stage level.
The Vibrant Denver Bond initiative created a $950 million fund for projects to be completed between 2026 and 2031. Of the total, 25 percent — or about $237 million — is earmarked for city facilities, including Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre. Red Rocks attracted more than 1.7 million concertgoers during 2025, making it the most popular amphitheater, according to the industry trade publication Pollstar. The open-air space, which has a seating capacity of 9,525, was carved from sandstone rocks toward the end of the 1930s.
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
INDEPENDENCE PASS TO OPEN FOR SUMMER SEASON ON THURSDAY
|
| |
|
|
| |
Independence Pass will open on schedule for the 2026 season at noon on Thursday, May 21. The Colorado Dept. of Transportation will allow vehicles on the seasonal portion of Colorado Hwy. 82 following the completion of the road’s annual maintenance projects. While snowpack for the area was significantly lower than years past, it allowed CDOT crews to replace damaged guardrails, fill potholes, resurface areas where the road was heaved up, trim back overgrown bushes, remove downed trees and clear rockfall from the roadway and drainages to enable proper water drainage. Reopening dates for Independence Pass in recent years are:
- May 27, 2021
- May 26, 2022
- May 25, 2023
- May 31, 2024
- May 22, 2025
Commercial and recreational vehicles, 35 feet or longer, remain prohibited on Independence Pass between mile point 47.2 (west side, near Aspen) and mile point 84.2 (east side, near Twin Lakes/Leadville and about one mile west of the junction with US Hwy. 24). Cracked or loose rock is also common along Hwy. 82 on Independence Pass, developing as a result of regular and frequent freeze/thaw cycles in the mountains. Motorists and cyclists should check weather conditions prior to traveling mountain passes and be aware that spring rain or snowstorms can prompt safety closures or slow traffic. Real-time road conditions are available at COtrip.org.
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
ACES ROLLS OUT SUMMER PROGRAMMING
|
| |
|
|
| |
The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies unveiled an expanded lineup of summer programming across the Roaring Fork Valley. The calendar includes environmental education, a hands-on forest restoration project on Aspen Mountain, culinary events, lectures, community programming and a presentation from one of the world’s leading nature filmmakers, all designed to connect residents and visitors more deeply with the natural world. Colorado continues to experience an invasion of Douglas-fir beetles, sparked by climate change. ACES is calling on the community to help do something about it. On May 30, ACES is partnering with Kairos Futura, an arts organization committed to fostering community engagement through imaginative events, for the “Zombie Forest Quest” on Aspen Mountain. The event combines ecological restoration with an interactive scavenger hunt aimed at combating the growing spread of Douglas-fir beetles.
Volunteers will spread out across the mountain to place pheromone patches on roughly 5,000 trees in an effort to protect healthy Douglas firs from infestation. Along the way, participants will search for hidden “Forest Relics” created by Kairos artists while competing in teams throughout the forest. Everyone who completes the mission will be initiated into the First Forest Division and receive a divisional badge hat. The First Forest Division is Kairos Futura’s growing team of ecological field volunteers, the front-line responders for climate action and ecosystem resilience projects across the Roaring Fork Valley. Registration for the free event is capped at 100 volunteers and can be found on the ACES website at aspennature.org.
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
NEW MEDICAL DIRECTOR JOINS MESA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH
|
| |
|
|
| |
Mesa County Public Health appointed Kathryn Spangler as its new medical director, effective June 1. Unlike the executive director’s role, Spangler’s position focuses exclusively on serving as the agency’s primary medical advisor. The release added that Spangler will be charged with infectious disease response oversight, public health clinic leadership and quality assurance for its regional lab and reproductive health services. According to an online job posting, the position is part-time, with required hours averaging 10 or fewer per week, and pays $175 per hour.
A Grand Junction High School graduate, Spangler boasts a bachelor’s degree in chemical and biochemical engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, a master’s in public health and a medical degree from the University of New Mexico. Over the last seven years, Spangler worked as a hospitalist and healthcare administrator at Intermountain Health St. Mary’s Regional Hospital, 2635 N 7th St., including an interim stint as medical director for St. Mary’s Medical Group. The department’s current medical director, Kevin Fitzgerald, will retire after roughly five years when Spangler steps into the role next month.
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
STATE EDUCATION DEPT. HONORS THREE EAGLE COUNTY SCHOOLS
|
| |
|
|
| |
The Colorado Dept. of Education recently announced their performance awards for 2025. Eagle County School District saw three of its schools honored. Berry Creek Middle School, winner of the award in 2024, again had its name on the winners list for 2025 as a Colorado Center for Excellence. Established in 2009, the Center of Excellence Award recognizes public schools in the state that enroll a student population of which at least 75 percent are at-risk pupils and that demonstrate the highest rates of student longitudinal growth, as measured by the Colorado Growth Model.
Brush Creek Elementary School and World Academy Online School were recipients of The John Irwin Award. This award is given to schools that demonstrate exceptional academic achievement over time. These schools received an Exceeds Expectations rating on the Academic Achievement indicator of the School Performance Frameworks reflecting exceptional performance in math, English language arts, and science. The award is named for former Colorado State Rep. John J. Irwin, who was considered a visionary in the field of education.
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
ANNUAL STATE OF THE YAMPA ADDRESS TO BE HELD MAY 28
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
Friends of the Yampa will open the 46th Annual Yampa River Festival with its annual State of the Yampa Address on Thursday, May 28, at the Bud Werner Library’s Library Hall in Steamboat Springs. The free event begins at 6 p.m., with doors opening at 5:30 p.m., and will highlight current conditions in the Yampa River Basin, ongoing projects and programs, and this year’s snowpack compared to past seasons. Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District General Manager Andy Rossi is scheduled to speak about ongoing drought conditions in the valley, which persist despite recent cooler temperatures and moisture. The evening will also include a short film, “RiverWonderGrass: Pixie and the Partygrass Boys,” by Adrift Dinosaur. Ticketed attendees will receive free popcorn and can purchase $5 beers from Mountain Tap Brewery. The event is open to the public, though advance tickets are encouraged. For tickets, visit tinyurl.com/5678p6jp.
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
BRECKENRIDGE MOVES FORWARD WITH DARK SKY ENFORCEMENT
|
| |
|
|
| |
Breckenridge officials are continuing enforcement of the town’s lighting requirements as part of its DarkSky International certification framework, even as council members expressed split opinions over timing and cost concerns tied to bringing remaining municipal, residential and commercial lighting into full compliance. Around 83 percent of the town’s 2,768 surveyed properties are now in compliance with DarkSky standards. Around 461 properties remain out of compliance. When planning staff send notice to noncompliant properties, letters indicate that homeowners and businesses have 30 days to come into compliance or prove they’re taking steps to do so.
Breckenridge became the first mountain resort community in Colorado to receive DarkSky International certification in August 2025. DarkSky International certification requires communities to adopt lighting standards that reduce light pollution, including fully shielded fixtures, downward-directed lighting, limits on brightness and color temperature, along with ongoing education and enforcement. Certified communities must also maintain compliance across municipal and private lighting over time. Breckenridge has up to nine years under the certification framework to achieve 100 percent compliance across all properties and lighting systems. The town maintains a Frequently Asked Questions page about exterior lighting requirements online at TinyUrl.com/mve8yvwd. A full version of the town’s exterior lighting code can be accessed online at Breckenridge.Town.Codes/Code/9-12-13.
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
GAS PRICES IN DENVER EXPECTED TO INCREASE HEADING INTO MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
|
| |
|
|
| |
Gas prices reached $4.99 a gallon on Monday at several gas stations in metro Denver, GasBuddy reported, and costs could rise again as people prepare for trips over the Memorial Day weekend.
- The lowest price reported in the Denver area was $4.29 in Littleton on Tuesday morning.
- The highest price for gas on Monday in Colorado was $5.39 in Carbondale.
- The lowest gas price on Sunday in the Denver area was $4.05 per gallon and the most expensive was $4.99.
- The lowest price in the state was $3.99 a gallon while the highest was $6.29. While steep, $6.29 is about $2 below the highest prices in the country.
- Average gasoline prices in Denver have risen 35.3 cents a gallon in the last week, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 844 stations.
- Prices in Denver are 80.6 cents higher than a month ago and $1.59 a gallon higher than a year ago.
- Colorado AAA said the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in the state is $4.66.
The Memorial Day weekend could add to the increases. People worried about gas prices should fill up before they head to the mountains. Drivers should avoid filling up on I-70 or U.S. 285 if they can. “You’ll generally find cheaper prices at service stations that aren’t immediately adjacent to the highway.” Oil companies have reported higher profits since the Iran war started. British oil giant BP said it more than doubled its profits in the first three months of this year over last year. TotalEnergies, based in Paris, raised its dividends and doubled its share buybacks after announcing $5.4 billion in net profits for the first quarter.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
MARKET UPDATE - 05/19/2026 Close
|
| |
|
(Courtesy of Alpine Bank Wealth Management*)
|
| |
|
Canadian dollar (per U.S. dollar)
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Mexican peso (per U.S. dollar)
|
| |
|
|
|
|
30-year fixed mortgage rate (Freddie Mac 05/14/2026)
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
*Not FDIC insured. May lose value. Not guaranteed by the bank.
|
| |
|
| |
Alpine Bank is an independent, employee-owned organization with headquarters in Glenwood Springs and banking offices across Colorado's Western Slope, mountains and Front Range. Alpine Bank serves customers with retail, business, wealth management*, mortgage and electronic banking services. Learn more at alpinebank.com.
*Alpine Bank Wealth Management services are not FDIC insured, may lose value and are not guaranteed by the bank.
|
| |
|
|
| |
| Make changes to your subscription or unsubscribe here. |
| © 2026 Alpine Bank. |
| |
|
|
