Public angst over data center growth addressed by panel of city officials, experts Saturday
Cheyenne, Wyoming, hosted a public panel with city officials, utility staff, and industry experts to address community concerns regarding data center growth. The discussion covered development oversight, zoning processes, water and energy consumption, and environmental impacts. Key takeaways included the city's "do no harm" standard for developers and the economic benefits for the community.
Local government leaders, utility staff, and industry experts convened at the Cheyenne Civic Center on Saturday to discuss the development of data centers and the city's preparedness for the industry's expansion. The panel addressed dozens of pre-submitted questions from Cheyenne residents, covering topics such as development oversight, water and energy strain, transparency, and environmental impact surveys.
Panelists, including Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins and Director of Planning and Development Charles Bloom, explained the governmental processes for data center development, including annexation and zoning. They highlighted that data centers, particularly large ones, often require land annexation into the city and appropriate zoning. The city maintains a "do no harm" philosophy, ensuring residents and ratepayers do not subsidize data center operations, and that companies pay for necessary infrastructure expansions.
The discussion also delved into the environmental and utility impacts. Representatives from the Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities and Black Hills Energy clarified that data centers are required to pay for any system expansions necessitated by their operations. While current data centers use about 2% of the city's water, this could increase to 6% with current projects before closed-loop cooling systems become standard. Microsoft, represented by policy expert Johnathan Noble, affirmed its commitment to water efficiency and ensuring grid stability, making investments that benefit all users.
Furthermore, the panel addressed noise standards, property value impacts, and economic benefits. Data centers must adhere to city noise regulations, with ongoing monitoring to ensure compliance. Panelists refuted claims of decreased property values, citing examples like Loudoun County, Virginia, where data center revenue has led to tax reductions. The growth of the data center industry in Laramie County is creating significant demand for skilled trades and providing high-paying jobs, benefiting local communities and retaining young Wyomingites.