Wyoming faces challenges with data center growth as environmental concerns rise
Wyoming is grappling with the rapid expansion of data centers, particularly in Cheyenne and Laramie County, which are attracting major tech companies like Google and Meta. Public opposition has grown due to concerns about water and electricity usage, leading to a rejected moratorium proposal in Cheyenne. Governor Gordon has issued an executive order to coordinate regulation, while the state Legislature is urged to address the industry's impacts.
Wyoming is actively seeking to diversify its economy away from traditional “boom or bust” industries, with data centers emerging as a significant, albeit controversial, economic development target. The capital city's economic development agency, Cheyenne LEADS, reports 10 operational data centers in Cheyenne and Laramie County, with five under construction and nine more in planning stages.
However, this growth is met with substantial public opposition, primarily centered on the massive water and electricity demands of data centers in a drought-stricken state facing utility rate hikes. Residents' concerns prompted a Cheyenne City Council vote in May on a one-year moratorium on new data center development, which was ultimately rejected by a 9-1 vote.
Major tech companies are expanding in the state, including Google, which is building a 2.7-gigawatt data center south of Cheyenne, designed to scale up to 10 gigawatts, making it potentially the largest in the nation. Meta also has an $800 million data center campus set to open next year, which recently sparked public outrage after a rare bacterium was reportedly discharged into the city's wastewater system. Governor Mark Gordon responded by issuing an executive order, “Data Centers the Wyoming Way,” requiring state agencies to coordinate regulation. The Legislature is also called upon to address the industry's unprecedented demands on power, water, and land use, with even the far-right Freedom Caucus weighing in to advocate for more stakeholder involvement and research.