Cheyenne LEADS Discusses Data Centers in Cheyenne and Laramie County

Cheyenne LEADS, the local economic development entity in Cheyenne, Wyoming, is leveraging its connections with existing and planned data centers in Laramie County to address community concerns. Betsey Hale, CEO of LEADS, emphasized that the organization's business parks were not solely developed for data centers but were part of a broader, 40-year economic development strategy that previously focused on distribution centers. Hale explained that data centers are seen as another form of distribution, dealing with information manufacturing. She acknowledged public concerns about growth and stated that a process is currently underway at the Cheyenne City Council to address these issues. LEADS has been actively listening to residents' concerns, particularly regarding water and electricity consumption by data centers. Responding to specific points, Hale noted that in 2025, data centers in Cheyenne utilized only 1.9% of the city's total water. Regarding electricity, she highlighted the large load tariff system for Black Hills Energy customers, which requires significant power users, including data centers, to fund new generation, transmission, and infrastructure. This mechanism, according to Hale, protects existing ratepayers. However, she also mentioned that rural electricity providers might not have the same tariff benefits, suggesting potential disparities for other customers.