Evanston, Wyoming, Hosts Tense Community Meeting on Prometheus Hyper Scale Data Center Project
Trenton Thornock, a fifth-generation Wyoming rancher, pitched his 1.2 gigawatt data center project, Prometheus Hyper Scale, to a skeptical Evanston crowd, facing significant local opposition. The company emphasized its commitment to community engagement and sustainable water cooling systems to improve the state's economy. The meeting was emotional, with some attendees challenging answers and expressing accusations.
A community meeting in Evanston, Wyoming, discussing a proposed 1.2-gigawatt data center by Prometheus Hyper Scale, was marked by tension and skepticism. Trenton Thornock, a fifth-generation Wyoming rancher and founder of Prometheus Hyper Scale, presented the project on Tuesday, May 27, 2026, to an audience described as emotional and at times unruly, according to Cowboy State Daily's Renee Jean.
Thornock, who founded his company in 2020, highlighted Prometheus Hyper Scale's commitment to community engagement and its innovative, sustainable water cooling systems. He also pitched the project as a means to improve Wyoming's economy and combat the outmigration of its youth. Despite his efforts, the meeting saw attendees yelling questions, challenging answers, and even accusing Thornock of being a "sellout" due to his current residence in Texas, reflecting a rising tide of local and statewide opposition against data center developments in Wyoming.
While largely civil, the intense public scrutiny underscores the challenges data center developers face in communities concerned about the environmental impact and other local issues.