Cheyenne residents petition for moratorium on new data centers amid development boom

A grassroots petition is gaining traction in Cheyenne, Wyoming, calling for a moratorium on new data center construction in Laramie County. Spearheaded by Heather Madrid, the petition aims for 7,000 signatures, with hundreds already collected. Madrid and other organizers are not entirely against data centers but argue that the rapid pace of development is overwhelming the city's existing planning framework and that regulations are insufficient for hyperscale facilities. Ward I Councilman Larry Wolfe corroborated the concerns, stating there are as many as 70 data centers in various stages of discussion for Laramie County. He highlighted transparency issues, noting that information about new projects, including company names, often surfaces only at late stages, leading to public distrust. Wolfe pointed to the recent postponement of the Cox Ranch annexation as an example of the council needing more information before proceeding. He also expressed concern that the data center boom has outstripped the city's ability to plan for land consumption and infrastructure demands, though he remains undecided on supporting a moratorium. Conversely, Cheyenne LEADS CEO Betsey Hale defended the existing processes, stating data centers have been a "signature effort" for two decades and that recent complaints are based on outdated information. She asserted that modern data centers employ closed-loop cooling systems and pay large-load tariffs to cover energy costs, ensuring they do not burden the community. Hale also suggested that some opposition might be driven by non-existent groups or chatbots. She emphasized the need for a "Plan Cheyenne update" focused on land use rather than a moratorium. State Senator Cale Case (R-Lander) echoed some concerns about cumulative impacts on energy rates, water usage, and land consumption on a statewide level. He is sympathetic to a temporary moratorium to allow for a robust regulatory framework and plans to reintroduce legislation concerning the electricity tax collected from data centers. The ongoing debate underscores a growing tension between economic development interests and community concerns over the scale and speed of data center expansion.