Wyoming faces debate over data center growth, resources
Wyoming is heavily investing in data centers, with Cheyenne and Laramie County being major hubs. However, public opposition is growing due to concerns over massive water and electricity usage, as well as environmental impacts, leading to a rejected moratorium proposal. State officials, including Gov. Mark Gordon, are trying to manage growth while promoting economic benefits.
Wyoming is actively pursuing data center development to diversify its economy and generate tax revenue, moving away from its traditional 'boom or bust' industries. Cheyenne and Laramie County are experiencing significant data center expansion, with 10 operational facilities, five under construction, and numerous others in various planning stages, according to Cheyenne LEADS, the capital city’s economic development agency.
However, this rapid growth is meeting increasing public opposition. Residents have voiced deep concerns about the immense water and electricity consumption of data centers, particularly in a drought-prone state already facing utility rate hikes. Public outrage also flared after a deadly bacterium was reportedly discharged from Meta's data center into Cheyenne's wastewater system. In response to public pressure, the Cheyenne City Council voted on a one-year moratorium on new data center development in May, but it was rejected by a 9-1 vote.
Major tech companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft are key players in Wyoming's data center landscape. Google is building a 2.7-gigawatt facility south of Cheyenne, designed to scale up to 10 gigawatts, which would make it the nation's largest. Meta's $800 million campus is set to open next year, and Microsoft, already Cheyenne's largest taxpayer, plans to triple its existing plant footprint. Gov. Mark Gordon issued an executive order, "Data Centers the Wyoming Way," aimed at coordinating state agency regulation to balance investment with community and resource protection, though the far-right Freedom Caucus criticized it as insufficient.
Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins has acknowledged public concerns but remains a staunch supporter of the industry, citing the jobs and tax base it brings. Opposition to data centers continues to strengthen in Cheyenne, with residents like Patricia McCoy and Thomas White expressing fears about environmental degradation, aquifer contamination, and the loss of community character. Critics argue that the state's regulatory process is being rushed, failing to adequately address the unprecedented demands on power, water, and land.