Platte County Recommends Rezoning Private Ranchland For Proposed Data Center
The Platte County Planning and Zoning Commission has unanimously recommended rezoning 5,344 acres of private ranchland near Wheatland, Wyoming, for a proposed utility-scale data center campus. This rezoning would allow industrial use, but any future development would require a special-use permit. The recommendation now moves to the Platte County Commissioners for a final decision on September 2.
The Platte County Planning and Zoning Commission in Wyoming has unanimously voted to recommend rezoning 5,344 acres of private ranchland for a proposed utility-scale data center campus. The property, currently zoned Ranch, Agricultural and Mining (RAM) and owned by Gregor and Cindy Goertz, is located northeast of Wheatland near the Platte and Goshen county line.
The rezoning would enable the land to be used for utility-scale energy generation, energy storage, and a data center campus. However, the commission emphasized that this vote is not an approval of the data center project itself. Instead, it would place the property under the county's industrial zoning framework, requiring any future development to obtain a special-use permit, thus ensuring county oversight. The commission attached three conditions to its recommendation, including a reversion to previous zoning if construction doesn't begin within five years, a requirement for industrial park subdivisions to be presented to county commissioners, and the mandatory special-use permit.
The decision followed two hours of public comment from residents of both Platte and Goshen counties, presenting a mix of support and opposition. Supporters highlighted the need for new industry and a larger tax base to retain young people, citing the success of past industrial projects like the Laramie River Station power plant. Opponents voiced concerns about placing a large industrial development in what they described as a scenic and environmentally sensitive area known as Goshen Hole, raising questions about potential impacts on water, wildlife, and the rural character of the community. Some residents also suggested a moratorium on data center development until further study could be conducted.
Developer Blake Marcus indicated the project is in its earliest phase, focusing on site evaluation and feasibility. He noted the facility would generate its own power and use a closed-loop cooling system, requiring less than 15 acre-feet of water annually. The commission's recommendation now advances to the Platte County Commissioners, who are scheduled to make a final decision on the rezoning request on September 2.