Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray's Stance on Data Centers and Easement Votes
Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray is actively campaigning against data centers, despite previously voting for a data center generation facility easement. Gray's 'aye' vote was attributed by him to Governor Mark Gordon, who in turn criticized Gray's conduct during meetings. Gray also initially opposed, but later approved, an access easement for Tri-State Generation in Natrona County, after assurances it was not for data centers or wind/solar projects.
Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray, who is currently campaigning against data centers, voted in June for a data center generation facility easement. According to Cowboy State Daily’s Clair McFarland, Gray later claimed his vote was Governor Mark Gordon's fault, suggesting the governor obscured the nature of the vote. Governor Gordon refuted this, stating board members have ample time to review documents and that Gray appeared distracted during meetings.
Gray is the only U.S. House candidate in Wyoming's GOP nomination race to express outright opposition to data centers. His opponents largely believe data center policy is a matter for state and local governments, not Congress. Separately, during a State Board of Land Commissioners meeting, Gray initially moved to block an access road for Tri-State Generation to a power substation in remote Natrona County. He expressed concerns about its potential connection to data centers or renewable energy projects. After Treasurer Curt Meier highlighted that Tri-State supplies power to many Wyoming irrigators and farmers, Gray reversed his stance, voting for the access road following assurances it was not intended for data centers, wind, or solar projects.