Steenbergen: Responsible data center development can have multiple benefits
A commentary by Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Dale Steenbergen argues that responsible data center development could create jobs, generate tax revenue and diversify Wyoming’s economy. It highlights Cheyenne’s 302-megawatt data center campus and Microsoft’s partnership with Laramie County Community College to train workers, while calling for grid modernization and careful planning.
Dale Steenbergen, president and CEO of the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce and CEO of the Wyoming Chamber of Commerce, says Wyoming is positioned to benefit from artificial intelligence infrastructure because of its energy resources, available land, workforce and experience with large-scale projects. He points to a 302-megawatt data center campus in Cheyenne that is expected to create more than 700 construction jobs and 40 permanent positions, as well as potentially generate substantial tax revenue for host communities.
Steenbergen acknowledges opposition to data center investment but argues projects should be evaluated on their economic and community benefits. He says Wyoming must modernize its electric grid, improve transmission and interconnection, and prepare workers for data center careers. The article cites Microsoft’s partnership with Laramie County Community College on a Datacenter Academy, which has trained more than 1,000 students, as an example of local workforce development.