Cologno Monzese City Council in Lombardy, Italy, has unanimously rejected an 80MW data center proposed by Officine Mak and 2C Sviluppo Immobiliare Spa at the former Torriani industrial site. The project, which was expected to generate €12 million ($13.4 million) in council fees, included two data center buildings and supporting infrastructure on Via Guzzina, near Brugherio. In a September 24 resolution, the council cited concerns over water and electricity consumption, land use, and technological waste, saying the project conflicted with the municipality’s environmental and strategic objectives.
“The submitted proposal does not fully comply with the requirements of the PGT [territorial government plan],” said the council resolution reported in II Giorno.
“The strategic objectives require us to lead Cologno Monzese toward the model of an eco-sustainable, circular and intelligent city, focused on the regeneration of existing buildings, energy efficiency, protection of water resources, and the structural expansion of biodiversity and urban forests."
Lombardy, particularly the Milan metropolitan area, is seeing rapid data center growth driven by AI demand, with 2GW of new capacity expected over the next five years. The expansion has sparked local opposition over environmental concerns. A proposed 240MW facility in Magenta faced backlash this summer, while plans for a 120MW data center in Travagliato were withdrawn last month.
