Wyoming Outdoor Council holds statewide data center forums, pushes for responsible development
The Wyoming Outdoor Council is conducting a statewide tour to discuss responsible data center development, highlighting concerns about water and energy use, and local impacts across Wyoming. The organization is advocating for greater transparency and stronger regulations, using examples like Google's Project Tembo and an incident at Meta's facility. While not seeking a ban, WOC encourages communities to engage with local leaders to ensure beneficial development.
The Wyoming Outdoor Council (WOC) is conducting a statewide tour to educate communities on responsible data center development, addressing concerns about water and energy consumption, wildlife, and local impacts across Wyoming. Kicking off forums in Cheyenne and Laramie, with plans for additional meetings in Casper, Cody, Evanston, Sheridan, Gillette, and Lander, WOC aims to foster discussion beyond the general concept of AI to focus on the physical infrastructure being built across the state.
Jocelyn Wulf, WOC data center campaign manager, highlighted that while modern data centers may use closed-loop cooling systems, significant water is still consumed by the natural gas power plants that generate electricity for these facilities. She cited Google's Project Tembo in Laramie County, projected to scale up to 10 gigawatts, as an example where power generation would use tens of millions of gallons of water daily. Wulf also noted potential issues with wastewater discharges and chemicals, referencing a recent incident where a contractor for Meta's Cheyenne data center released bacteria into the city's wastewater system, emphasizing the need for greater transparency and reporting.
John Burrows, WOC energy and climate policy director, stressed that the organization is not seeking a complete ban on data centers but rather pushing for responsible development. The WOC advocates for communities to require Community Benefits Agreements from developers to ensure local perks such as hiring local workers or funding community projects. They also highlighted how developers can bypass state review under the Industrial Siting Act by locating within existing industrial parks, shifting the review burden to local governments.
Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon's Executive Order 2026-03, "Data Centers the Wyoming Way," was signed in June to establish a framework for water sustainability, wildlife, and transparency, although it does not create a new permitting program. Wulf urged attendees to engage with local leaders, stating that communities have a significant opportunity to shape the future of data center development in Wyoming.