Colorado lawmakers are considering a measure that would require data centers to optimize their water use and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. The measure would also require operators to use renewable sources and cover all of their energy costs. Critics argue this would result in Colorado being excluded from the AI sector and thousands of new jobs being moved to other states. However, professor Jean Hardy believes the jobs created by data centers are limited and often not directly representative of local communities. The bill is different from a previous proposal that would exempt data centers from paying any sales and use taxes for at least 20 years.