Former BP CEO To Lead Prometheus Hyperscale’s $30B Wyoming Data Center Buildout

Prometheus Hyperscale, a Wyoming-based data center developer, has announced the appointment of former BP chief executive Bernard Looney as its new CEO. Looney will oversee the development of two massive 1.2-gigawatt AI data centers, one in Evanston and another in Casper, representing a combined investment of over $30 billion, making them among the largest private investments in Wyoming's history. Looney, with three decades of experience managing multi-billion dollar projects at BP, emphasized his expertise in large-scale infrastructure development. He stated that the projects are crucial for America's strategic objective in AI and will leverage Wyoming's abundant energy resources. The company plans to generate the vast majority of its power "behind-the-meter," initially using natural gas and transitioning to a diverse fuel mix including solar, wind, and small modular nuclear reactors. Prometheus has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Oklo Partners, a company backed by Sam Altman, for nuclear power. Addressing significant local concerns about energy prices and water usage, Looney explained that Prometheus's self-sufficient power generation strategy aims to avoid increasing strain on the local grid and may even assist it. For water, he detailed a proprietary closed-loop geothermal cooling system that will recycle non-potable water from deep aquifers, ensuring no impact on community drinking water sources. The projects are also envisioned to create a talent pipeline and well-paying jobs for Wyomingites, preventing young people from leaving the state. The company's ambitions have attracted notable investors, including In-Q-Tel, the venture capital arm investing on behalf of U.S. intelligence agencies, which has taken a stake and will have a representative on Prometheus's board. Looney confirmed this as a significant vote of confidence, underscoring the strategic importance of Prometheus Hyperscale's projects for both national policy and intelligence.