Data centers may be far from the savior that Wyoming is looking for
Wyoming is grappling with the rapid expansion of data centers, with cities like Cheyenne experiencing significant development. Public opposition has emerged due to concerns about water and electricity usage, as well as environmental impacts from a Meta data center. A proposed one-year moratorium on data center development in Cheyenne was rejected by the city council.
Wyoming is considering data center development as a solution for economic diversification away from its traditional 'boom or bust' industries, but the rapid expansion is raising significant public concerns. Cheyenne and Laramie County, in particular, are seeing a surge in data center projects, with 10 operational, five under construction, and many more in planning stages, according to Cheyenne LEADS.
Public opposition is mounting over the industry's substantial water and electricity demands, especially in a drought-prone state with rising utility rates. This opposition led to a Cheyenne City Council vote on a one-year moratorium on new data center development, which was ultimately rejected 9-1. Further outrage stemmed from the discharge of a deadly bacterium, cupriavidus gilardii, from a Meta data center, found in the city's wastewater system, which is expected to intensify opposition.
Governor Mark Gordon issued an executive order titled “Data Centers the Wyoming Way,” aiming to coordinate state agency regulation of tech companies eyeing Wyoming for its climate and energy resources. However, this order has been criticized by groups like the far-right Freedom Caucus, who advocate for more robust stakeholder involvement and research into the impact on energy and water. Veteran Wyoming journalist Kerry Drake highlights the urgency for the Legislature to address the unprecedented demands of data centers on power, water, and land use, emphasizing the need for careful regulatory processes.