Learning the realities of data centers
Sweetwater County Commissioner Island Richards is researching data center development in Wyoming, particularly in Cheyenne, to understand their economic and environmental impacts. The goal is to develop regulatory frameworks for potential future data center projects in Sweetwater County, addressing concerns about water and electricity usage. Draft language for regulating impacts rather than facility type is currently being developed.
Sweetwater County Commissioner Island Richards is actively researching data center development across Wyoming to inform future regulations in Sweetwater County. His efforts include a visit to Cheyenne, the only community in Wyoming currently hosting data centers, where he met with Mayor Patrick Collins and Laramie County Commissioner Ty Zwonitzer to discuss their decade-long experience with these facilities.
Richards reported back to county commissioners on Aug. 18, stating that Cheyenne leaders overwhelmingly view data centers as a net positive, citing increased tax revenue that offsets property tax cuts, hundreds of high-paying jobs, and investment in local infrastructure. He noted that third-party support companies for data centers have also become permanent parts of Cheyenne's economy, creating additional opportunities.
Despite the benefits, Richards acknowledged public concerns, particularly regarding water usage. He shared that newer closed-loop cooling technologies in Cheyenne's data centers use less water than commonly perceived, accounting for only 1.3% of the city's total water sales. He also addressed power consumption, noting that Wyoming is a power-generating state and data centers can contribute to infrastructure upgrades, leading to minimal rate increases for existing customers. However, he highlighted that Southwest Wyoming currently faces a roadblock in available electrical capacity for any significant industrial growth.
To prepare for potential data center development, Commissioner Richards and the Sweetwater County Land Use Department are developing draft regulatory language. Their philosophy is to regulate the impacts of facilities—such as noise, setbacks, water and power demand, and cleanup—rather than the facility type itself. They are also considering Conditional Use Permits for larger projects to allow for greater county authority and public involvement. Richards stressed that regulations aim to ensure industries are good neighbors and should not mandate specific technologies, with public input to be sought before adoption.