For Data Center Operators & Developers

Proposed Compliance Requirements

The proposed Green Code Protocol mandate requires large data center facilities to adopt closed-loop cooling and contribute to municipal water infrastructure. No ordinance has passed. This is a proposal under active review.

Scope of Proposed Mandate

Applies to facilities above the proposed capacity threshold under the GCTS-1 framework.

● PROPOSED — Awaiting ordinance

Cooling Mandate

Facilities above 10 MW capacity must adopt closed-loop cooling systems — eliminating once-through water consumption (open-loop evaporative cooling).

Zero-discharge alternative cooling systems (ZLD architecture) satisfy the requirement.

● PROPOSED — Funding mechanism

Zero-Taxpayer Compliance Fee

Facilities meeting the cooling mandate contribute to the municipal acoustic sensor network via a developer compliance fee structure. No general fund appropriation required from the city or county.

Proposed Phase-In Timeline

All phases are PROPOSED — subject to council adoption and permitting approval.

PhaseTimelineRequirementTier
Phase 0 Now — council vote Proposal under review. No requirement currently active. PROPOSED
Phase 1 Post-ordinance adoption New facilities >10 MW: closed-loop cooling required at permitting PROPOSED
Phase 2 18–36 months post-adoption Existing facilities >10 MW: retrofit compliance window PROPOSED
Phase 3 36–60 months post-adoption Full compliance enforcement. Compliance fee triggers sensor funding. PROPOSED

Approved Cooling Alternatives

● PROPOSED — Qualifying alternative

Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD)

ZLD architecture satisfies the closed-loop cooling requirement. Eliminates municipal water consumption entirely. Detailed ZLD engineering specifications in separate technical brief.

● PROPOSED — Qualifying alternative

Closed-Loop Chiller Systems

Air-cooled or dry-cooled chiller systems meeting the proposed PUE/WUE thresholds qualify. Thermodynamic modeling available in PE Data Room (gated).

PE Data Room

Detailed financial and thermodynamic modeling for qualified investors and operators.

● PROPOSED — Gated documents

Project Obsidian — Technical & Financial Documents

The PE Data Room contains detailed CapEx modeling, PUE/WUE formulas, thermodynamic simulations, and sensitivity analysis for a proposed 50 MW NVL72-class retrofit scenario ($395M–$435M modeled CapEx range). ● MODELED — sensitivity analysis

Access PE Data Room via Outer Book →