Mayor's Minute: Data centers, wind farms and a possible new sister city in Brazil
Mayor Patrick Collins of Cheyenne, Wyoming, reported on a City Council work session where ViaWest and Skybox presented their proposed data center project for the Cox ranch. The community discussion focuses on ensuring responsible development. No decisions were made during this work session, which was for presentation and discussion.
Mayor Patrick Collins of Cheyenne, Wyoming, provided an update on several key community developments, prominently featuring the ongoing discussion around data centers. The City Council convened a work session, allowing developers ViaWest and Skybox to present their proposed data center project slated for a section of the Cox ranch. This session allowed developers to detail their progress over the past four months and address questions from council members, emphasizing responsible development practices in Cheyenne.
The Mayor also touched upon the Industrial Siting Council's meeting at LCCC, which resulted in the approval of a permit for the Laramie Range wind power project, approximately 20 miles northwest of Cheyenne. This project, which will introduce 139 wind turbines, secured $844,288 in funding for Cheyenne to manage the anticipated impact of an increased population during its 24-month construction period.
Other points in the Mayor's update included a proposal for Cheyenne to establish a sister city relationship with Jaguariúna, São Paulo, Brazil, aiming to foster tourism. He also highlighted the upcoming October opening of Bally’s new 1-mile horse-racing track east of town, authorized by the Wyoming Legislature to support the state's horse racing and breeding industries. Lastly, Mayor Collins addressed the critical issue of housing availability, detailing discussions with state legislators and various associations on increasing housing in Wyoming, noting the inelastic nature of the state's housing market and the challenges in meeting demand due to limited builders and workforce.