Microsoft, Prometheus Hyperscale pitch water saving tech to Wyoming committee

The Wyoming Legislature's Select Water Committee convened for nearly two hours to address the burgeoning data center industry's water demands amidst concerns over the state's finite water supply. Tech companies, drawn by Wyoming's cool climate and energy resources for AI-driven computing needs, are facing scrutiny over their water usage, particularly in a drought-prone state. Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins testified that the city's 13 data halls, operational since 2009, utilize approximately 200 acre-feet of water annually, less than 1.5% of the city's total consumption. He emphasized Cheyenne's mandate for water-saving technologies like closed-loop cooling systems. Jonathan Noble, a senior director for Microsoft, detailed the company's transition to direct-to-chip cooling in its newer Cheyenne facilities, anticipating water recharges only every five years. Prometheus Hyperscale, a newer entrant, also presented its proprietary liquid-cooling system for planned multimillion-dollar digital infrastructure campuses near Evanston and on the Natrona–Converse county line. Founder Trenton Thornock explained their system's water-propylene glycol mixture circulates for up to six years, using chillers and dry coolers without continuous water consumption. Mary Throne, Prometheus's director of Wyoming regulatory and government affairs, highlighted the economic development potential. Despite industry assurances, public skepticism persisted. Rep. Gary Brown (R-Laramie County) warned the committee about water strain and pollution caused by data centers in other states, urging caution on cumulative impacts. Citizen Kay McAdams questioned the treatment of water as a commodity and the reliability of unproven technologies. The committee also considered using produced water from oil and gas extraction for cooling, though University of Wyoming engineering professor Dr. Jonathan Brant noted the significant cost of treatment.