Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray Criticizes Data Centers at Congressional Forum
Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray repeatedly criticized data centers at a U.S. House forum, advocating for a federal ban. A specific data center project near FE Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, owned by Chinese nationals, was ordered to shut down by the Biden administration due to national security risks. The Wyoming Legislature also enacted new laws to restrict land transfers near critical infrastructure to foreign adversaries.
Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray utilized a U.S. House forum in Sheridan, Wyoming, to voice strong opposition to data centers, particularly "AI data centers," and called for a federal ban on their development. This stance sparked controversy with the forum's moderator and other candidates, most of whom emphasized the importance of local control over data center permitting decisions.
During the debate, Casper businessman Reid Rasner challenged Gray, referencing an "AI data center" near FE Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne that Gray had seemingly approved. This project, involving MineOne, a company reportedly majority-owned by Chinese nationals, and its subsidiary Terra Crypto Inc, was subsequently ordered to cease operations and divest its land by the Biden administration due to national security concerns identified by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS).
Gray defended his record, highlighting his advocacy for stronger state laws to restrict land transfers to adversarial nations. Following the controversy, the Wyoming Legislature passed new laws empowering state law enforcement to investigate suspicious land transfers near critical infrastructure and allowing the Secretary of State to dissolve businesses controlled by foreign adversaries. Rasner also criticized Gray for a 2021 vote that maintained tax exemptions for large data center projects in Wyoming.
The forum also delved into broader discussions on artificial intelligence, with candidates debating the need for ethical AI frameworks and data privacy protections at the federal level, reflecting ongoing national conversations about technology regulation.