Too quiet on the data center front, neighbors say

A proposed data center and power plant project by Prometheus Hyperscale near the rural Converse/Natrona county line in Wyoming is encountering significant local opposition. Residents, including Kevin Hool and Charlotte Naylor, are concerned about potential impacts such as noise, heat, fumes from natural gas generators, property value depreciation, and increased crime from a potential construction "man camp." They also express frustration over a perceived lack of transparency and environmental assessments. Prometheus Hyperscale acknowledges these concerns, stating the project is in early design stages and permits have not yet been filed. The company has indicated plans to use closed-loop cooling systems to mitigate noise, conduct environmental studies, and implement various sound control measures, including berms and walls. They have committed to sharing specific details and study results through formal county permitting and public notice processes, as well as holding additional community meetings. Prominent figures like Natrona County commissioner Peter Nicolaysen, who owns Parkerton Ranch near the proposed site, plans to recuse himself from any decisions should the project come before the Natrona County commissioners. Residents have also reached out to commissioners from both Natrona and Converse counties, and the office of U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman. One neighbor, Joseph Cook, proposed a "good neighbor agreement" to the company, seeking a buyout or nuisance fee for affected properties. The article also touches on broader state-level discussions about data center development, including a petition for a moratorium in Cheyenne and remarks from Cheyenne LEADS CEO Betsey Hale regarding suspected "foreign dark money" influencing opposition.