Natrona County Opponents To Data Center Man Camp Call It A 'Travesty' And 'Sin'
Natrona County residents are strongly opposing Prometheus Hyperscale's proposed data center and 'man camp,' citing concerns about groundwater, environmental impact, and changes to their rural lifestyle. County commissioners discussed the project's zoning, expressing little interest in using a local planned unit development process, preferring the state's industrial siting board for review. The project, which straddles Natrona and Converse counties, could involve a significant investment and its own power system.
Residents of Natrona County, Wyoming, voiced strong opposition to a proposed data center and associated 'man camp' by Prometheus Hyperscale, citing fears over environmental impacts, property devaluation, and the disruption of their rural way of life. At a Natrona County Commissioners meeting, residents expressed concerns about groundwater depletion, increased heat generation, potential impacts on Big Muddy Creek, and skepticism regarding the company's closed-loop cooling and temporary power generation plans.
The proposed data center project is planned to span both Natrona and Converse counties. Natrona County Development Director Sabrina Kemper confirmed that Prometheus Hyperscale officials had inquired about the county potentially using a planned unit development (PUD) process to create an industrial park for the project's portion within Natrona County. However, Commissioners Peter Nicolaysen and Casey Coates expressed little interest in this approach, preferring the state's industrial siting board process, which they believe offers a more rigorous review.
Prometheus founder and CEO Trenton Thornock previously stated the project would begin with a minimum $500 million investment for 200 megawatts, potentially scaling up to 1.5 gigawatts and creating up to 600 jobs. The company claims the facility will feature its own natural gas power system and a closed-loop cooling system.
Several residents, including Kris Hool, Sarah Collins, Brad Isner, Betty Mosley, and John Oakley, shared emotional testimonies, characterizing the project as a "travesty" and a "sin" due to its potential impacts on their properties, water sources, and the local ecosystem. They urged commissioners to seek more definitive information and address numerous unanswered questions before any decisions are made.