Cox Ranch data center developers outline project, commitments at council work session
Developers ViaWest Group and Skybox Datacenters provided an update to the Cheyenne City Council on their proposed Cox Ranch data center project, discussing ongoing community engagement, water usage plans, and infrastructure commitments. The project requires further city approvals, including a postponed annexation decision, before construction can begin. Developers also presented a document outlining their community commitments in response to council and community concerns.
Developers from ViaWest Group and Skybox Datacenters presented an update on their proposed data center project on the Cox Ranch property west of Cheyenne, Wyoming, to the Cheyenne City Council during a recent work session. The project, which includes two to three data center buildings, is currently moving through the annexation process, which was postponed until September 14 following an April City Council meeting.
Tom Glissmeyer of ViaWest's Mountain West Region and Jack O'Neill of Skybox Datacenters detailed plans for community engagement, including multiple open houses, and addressed concerns regarding water consumption by proposing a closed-loop cooling system that would use 600,000 gallons per facility annually, primarily for fire suppression. They also committed to fully funding the extension of water, sewer, and electrical infrastructure to the site, a commitment legally binding with Black Hills Energy.
Councilwoman Michelle Aldrich raised questions about the project's proximity to the Rolling Hills residential area, to which developers responded that buildings would be set back significantly and utilize natural topography to mitigate visual, noise, and lighting impacts. An agreement was also finalized with the Cox family descendants regarding the preservation and access to a mausoleum on the property.
Councilman Larry Wolfe introduced a proposed community benefits agreement, sparking debate among council members. In response, developers, represented by attorney Cindy DeLancey of Holland & Hart, presented their own "Commitment to the Cheyenne Community" document, outlining anticipated impacts and commitments related to jobs, traffic, environmental considerations, and utility usage. The project still awaits additional city approvals, utility coordination, and engineering before construction, which is expected to take five to seven years and create 300-500 permanent jobs.