Xcel Takes on Data Centers, RTD's Big Shakeup, and Former Mayor Hancock: Real Estate Mogul?

CityCast Denver tackles three major local stories in this episode: a pivotal shift at RTD with CEO Deborah Johnson stepping down after 24 years, a new Xcel Energy proposal to impose higher rates on data centers to protect residential customers, and former Mayor Michael Hancock’s latest real estate venture in Five Points. The RTD update reveals a complex legacy marked by pandemic-era budget cuts and ongoing infrastructure challenges, with the leadership transition seen as a strategic exit to avoid political fallout. Xcel’s large load tariff aims to make data centers pay their full energy and infrastructure costs, addressing public concerns over water use, environmental impact, and rising utility bills—though the plan doesn’t resolve all issues. Polling shows 57% of Coloradans believe data centers bring more downsides than benefits, despite growing AI adoption. Meanwhile, Hancock’s purchase of the historic Triangle Building in Five Points—formerly owned by his mentor Carl Bourgeois—signals a community-focused reinvestment, with plans for a co-working space, nonprofit access, and public programming. This move is framed as both a tribute and a potential catalyst for renewed Black-led development in a historically significant but economically challenged neighborhood. The episode underscores tensions between innovation, equity, and sustainability in Denver’s evolving urban landscape.