Cheyenne City Council to introduce data center moratorium bill, buy Thomes Avenue Senior Center

The Cheyenne City Council is scheduled to hold the first reading of a proposed 12-month moratorium on new data center development, following weeks of intense community debate over the industry's rapid expansion. The temporary pause aims to provide city staff with time to evaluate the impact of data centers on the environment, local electricity costs, the power grid, and municipal water supplies, with recommendations for regulations due by April 1, 2027. This initiative comes on the heels of stalled projects, such as the 1,260-acre Cox Ranch annexation, which faced significant resident opposition due to concerns about water depletion and the erosion of rural character. Despite efforts by tech companies like Microsoft and Prometheus Hyperscale to present water-saving cooling systems to state lawmakers, public apprehension regarding the sheer volume of proposed data centers in the region persists. Alongside the moratorium, the council will also consider amendments to the city's official zoning map, including proposals to rezone over 1,600 acres of the Cheyenne and Campstool Business Parks. Other items on the agenda include updates to solid waste fees and revised water and sewer rates, all of which underscore a broader municipal effort to manage growth and infrastructure impacts in Cheyenne.