Cheyenne Woman Asks Court To Overturn 3,500-Acre Microsoft Data Center Annexation
A Cheyenne woman has filed two lawsuits challenging the city's annexation of 3,500 acres for a Microsoft data center campus, alleging violations of the Open Meetings Act and issues with property ownership documentation. The legal action also seeks to push for a public referendum on the annexation decision. Community concerns about noise, environmental impact, and city processes are highlighted.
Heather Madrid Donis, a Laramie County homeowner, has filed two petitions in Laramie County District Court against the City of Cheyenne, challenging its approval of a 3,500-acre annexation intended for a major Microsoft data center expansion. Donis, who previously led a successful petition drive for a referendum to let voters decide on the annexation, accuses the City Council of illegally approving the annexation and violating the Open Meetings Act during a subsequent unannounced vote. The proposed "Highlands data center campus" is projected to be 2.7-gigawatts and would increase Cheyenne's area by 20%.
One petition alleges the Cheyenne City Council violated the Open Meetings Act on August 10 by holding an unlisted vote after an executive session. During this session, the council voted to seek a court ruling on whether an annexation can be challenged via a referendum, despite Donis having gathered over 3,000 signatures to qualify a referendum under Wyoming law. Donis claims this vote, on an item not on the public agenda, was illegal. Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins countered that the executive session was on the agenda and aimed to clarify conflicting state statutes regarding annexation appeals, stating the city continues to process the referendum signatures.
Donis's second petition seeks to void the July 13 annexation itself, arguing the ordinance incorrectly listed U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis as the landowner, even though Microsoft had closed on the property weeks prior. Mayor Collins explained that Lummis was the owner when the request was submitted, and state law prevented withdrawal of the signature. Both Donis and fellow resident Brian Childers expressed concerns about the broader impacts of data centers on emergency services, noise pollution, and infrastructure, feeling that the city council has not adequately listened to residents.
Council member Pete Laybourn acknowledged communication issues and the overwhelming pace of development, stating, "We can't declare a moratorium" but could improve communication. He suggested creating a joint powers board to unify planning commissions. While supporting Donis's fight for process and transparency, Donis herself stated her challenge is less about data centers inherently and more about ensuring proper studies and processes lead to appropriate locations.