Cheyenne and Evanston, Wyoming, React Differently to Data Center Proposals
Cheyenne and Evanston, Wyoming, are experiencing contrasting public reactions to data center development. While Cheyenne residents are actively opposing rapid expansion, including rejecting a moratorium, and circulating petitions for further restrictions, Evanston's community appears more receptive, with a data center project receiving a recommendation for approval. State-level discussions are also beginning regarding potential statewide regulations.
Cheyenne and Evanston, two cities in Wyoming, are facing similar propositions from data center developers but are reacting to them with markedly different public sentiments. In Cheyenne, residents have expressed strong opposition to the rapid proliferation of data centers, leading to packed public meetings and a community split on the issue. Councilman Larry Wolfe noted the city might be seeing as many as 70 potential data center projects, raising concerns about land use and city growth. Despite this, the Cheyenne City Council recently rejected a 12-month data center moratorium, though a petition is still circulating among residents, led by Heather Madrid, who seeks more transparency and guardrails on water and power use.
In contrast, Evanston, while also seeing packed public meetings, has demonstrated a more measured and less emotional response to data center proposals. The Uinta County Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval for Prometheus Hyperscale's 1.25-gigawatt data center, proposed by Uinta County native Trenton Thornock on his family's ranch. Thornock emphasizes creating an environmentally responsible infrastructure and providing high-paying local jobs, addressing concerns about economic diversification and youth retention in Wyoming.
Cheyenne has a longer history with data centers, including projects by Microsoft and Meta, and economic development efforts by Cheyenne LEADS, led by Executive Director Betsey Hale, who acknowledges past issues with transparency in city development processes. Mayor Patrick Collins highlights the need for economic diversification to retain Wyoming's youth. The differing reactions between the two cities are attributed to Cheyenne's longer engagement and the unexpected pace of development, versus Evanston's newer experience. State-level legislative discussions are beginning to explore potential statewide guardrails on data center water, power, and land use decisions.