Two More Data Centers Possible As Laramie County Planners OK Massive Man Camp
Two potential data center projects are in preliminary stages in Laramie County, Wyoming, while the county planning commission recommended approval for a large worker housing camp to support future industrial growth. One project involves Truss Energy near Carpenter, and another, by Langan, is for a data center campus and business park requiring a zoning change. Both projects would be natural gas-powered and have significant water demands, sparking concerns among residents.
Laramie County, Wyoming, is anticipating two new potential data center developments even as its planning commission has recommended approving a significant 5,600-person worker housing camp to accommodate an influx of construction workers for artificial intelligence and data center projects. Justin Arnold, Program Manager for Laramie County Planning and Development, informed the commission about a 540-acre data center proposed by New York-based Truss Energy, to be located about a mile west of Carpenter, an unincorporated town east of Cheyenne. Truss Energy is currently in preliminary due diligence stages and has not yet submitted a formal application.
Separately, another developer, Langan, is exploring an industrial business park and data center campus spanning 2,775 acres near the intersection of Terry Ranch Road and Interstate 25. This project, named Bison Ranch, would involve four single-story data center buildings, each approximately 700,000 square feet, and would require a zoning change from agricultural to a Planned Unit Development. Arnold noted that his office has received a pre-application request but no full proposal for this development. Both potential projects are slated to be natural gas-powered, utilizing large turbines and fuel cells that would generate electricity and consume an estimated 40,000 gallons of water daily.
The discussion of these upcoming data center projects occurred during a planning commission meeting where the proposed worker camp was the primary agenda item. The commission voted to recommend the man camp for approval to the Laramie County Commissioners, who will hold a public hearing on June 2 before making a final decision. The prospect of increased development, particularly the man camp, has drawn significant opposition from local residents, including Chris Fischer, who expressed frustration that community voices were not being heard. Commissioner Chairman Gunnar Malm confirmed that commissioners have not yet reviewed documentation for the new data center projects but receive updates on emerging proposals. Arnold emphasized that while numerous projects are approaching the county, formal applications for these specific data centers are still pending.