Freedom Caucus releases data center policy positions
The Wyoming Freedom Caucus has released its policy positions on data center construction in Wyoming, advocating for legislation to protect ratepayers and water users, prohibit incentives, and mandate transparency in energy and water consumption. They also support requiring all proposed data centers to undergo an industrial siting process and oppose AI-aided surveillance tools.
The Wyoming Freedom Caucus has publicly released its comprehensive policy positions regarding data center construction and operations within the state. In a press release, the caucus criticized Governor Mark Gordon's previous "mealy-mouthed executive order" on the topic, advocating instead for policymaking involving multiple stakeholders, thorough research, and public input, especially concerning energy costs and water usage.
The caucus outlined several key legislative proposals. These include measures to protect Wyoming ratepayers from increased costs due to large power users like data centers, and to safeguard agricultural water users while studying data center water consumption. They also seek to level the playing field by prohibiting incentives and subsidies for tech conglomerates, specifically mentioning the repeal of sales tax exemptions, and closing the "business park" loophole to ensure all data centers undergo the industrial siting process, which assesses socioeconomic and environmental impacts.
Further positions include supporting legislation to ban nondisclosure agreements signed by public officials, mandating transparency in data centers' energy and water consumption reporting to the Legislature’s Joint Minerals Committee, and opposing AI-aided surveillance tools such as Flock cameras, which they argue violate the Fourth Amendment and rely on data centers for operation. The Wyoming Freedom Caucus urged state residents to engage with local officials on these issues.