Cheyenne City Council advances Microsoft data center annexation amidst resident concerns
The Cheyenne City Council voted to advance Microsoft's request to annex land for data center expansion, despite significant resident opposition. Concerns were raised regarding water use, environmental impact, and infrastructure demands.
The Cheyenne City Council voted on July 14 to advance Microsoft's request to annex nearly 3,460 acres on the city's southeast edge for future data center expansion. This decision came despite hours of public comment from residents and some council members who urged a delay to develop stricter policies for large-scale industrial projects and conduct additional studies.
Residents expressed concerns about the project's water use, environmental impacts, and infrastructure demands, citing a recent incident where a contractor for the Meta data center, Goat Systems LLC, contaminated the city's reclaimed water system. However, supporters of the annexation highlighted Microsoft's potential economic benefits, job creation, and contribution to Cheyenne's growth as a technology hub. The council ultimately rejected calls for delay, opting to move forward with the annexation.