Uinta County Approves Conditional-Use Permit for Prometheus Hyperscale Data Center
Uinta County Commissioners unanimously approved a conditional-use permit for the 1.25-gigawatt Prometheus Hyperscale data center near the Utah border, despite mixed public comments and an active petition opposing the project. The decision clears a major hurdle for the facility, which will feature on-site natural gas power generation and a closed-loop cooling system to minimize environmental impact.
Uinta County Commissioners in Lyman, Wyoming, unanimously approved a conditional-use permit for the 1.25-gigawatt Prometheus Hyperscale data center on Tuesday. The proposed massive facility, spanning over 500 acres, faced a divided public audience with roughly 50% speaking for and against the project, but ultimately followed the Planning and Zoning Committee's recommendation.
Local attorney Parker Jackson urged commissioners to support the project, citing its potential for significant economic growth, including 3,800 construction jobs and 200 permanent technical roles, along with millions in new tax revenue. Conversely, petition organizer Alex Rossi expressed skepticism, warning of Wyoming's history of boom-and-bust cycles and concerns that Uinta County could be left with a large, underutilized footprint if the project fails to deliver on its promises. Rossi cited a previous unfulfilled brewery project in Evanston as an example of community promises not being met.
Prometheus Hyperscale founder Trenton Thornock and President Trevor Neilson stated that the project will be privately funded through a bond offering managed by Morgan Stanley, without any government funding or tax abatements. The data center plans a phased buildout and will generate its own power via a natural gas plant, operating off the public grid. It will also utilize a closed-loop cooling system, requiring minimal water usage for on-site facilities and making no wastewater discharges.
The approval comes with conditions addressing community concerns, including dust and noise limits, and commitments regarding electricity rates. Despite the approval, Rossi indicated he would continue to press for transparency on additional project aspects, such as housing for construction workers. Industry figures like Dale Steenbergen, president and CEO of the Wyoming Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the increasing demand for data centers and Wyoming's potential to benefit from such developments, particularly with local natural gas resources.