Wyoming Senator Criticizes Governor's Data Center Approach, Highlights Wheatland Project Concerns
Wyoming Senator Cheri Steinmetz criticizes Governor Mark Gordon's fast-tracking of data centers, citing a proposed $26 billion project near Wheatland as an example of permanent land conversion without sufficient transparency or public input. She raises concerns about the impact on water, electricity, and agricultural land, urging citizens to demand accountability.
Wyoming Senator Cheri Steinmetz penned an op-ed criticizing Governor Mark Gordon's approach to data center development, accusing him of fast-tracking projects with limited transparency and without a clear statewide plan. Steinmetz cites the proposed "Site Layer 4" project near Wheatland as a prime example, which reportedly involves an application to rezone 5,344 acres of ranchland for a $26 billion data center and power-generation complex. She argues that such projects lead to permanent conversion of valuable agricultural land and place demands on water, electricity, roads, and wildlife corridors that extend beyond local boundaries.
The Senator highlights public concerns that utility rate increases by Rocky Mountain Power might be linked to large-load customers, despite assurances to the contrary, and questions the effectiveness of existing tariffs. She contrasts Governor Gordon's executive order, which she describes as offering weak protections, with Utah Governor Spencer Cox's order that mandates stronger safeguards for natural resources and quality of life. Steinmetz contends that important decisions are being made without meaningful public input, with meetings held behind closed doors and non-disclosure agreements limiting citizen awareness.
Steinmetz concludes by emphasizing the inherent power of Wyoming citizens, urging them to exercise their constitutional rights to shape the state's future rather than ceding control to a few officials or developers. As a representative for Goshen, Niobrara, and Weston counties, she frames the issue as a matter of accountability and the preservation of Wyoming's unique character for future generations.