Some Cheyenne residents push for data center moratorium

Several hundred residents in Cheyenne, Wyoming, have signed a petition urging the city to enact a 12 to 18-month moratorium on new data center approvals, permitting, and construction. Organized by South Cheyenne resident Heather Madrid, the petition seeks a temporary halt to allow for independent cumulative impact studies, citing concerns over the rapid and opaque nature of data center development. Madrid, who has a background in public health, expressed worries about noise and light pollution, the scale of projects like Microsoft's planned 3,200-acre expansion, and an outdated 2014 regulatory framework. She argues that residents often discover these projects after rezoning and annexation measures are already approved, leading to a feeling of being 'locked in by data centers on all sides.' Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins and City Councilman Larry Wolfe acknowledge the city is playing catch-up with the data center boom. While Mayor Collins states there's no evidence of significant water or electricity impact, Councilman Wolfe expressed skepticism about the city's legal authority to impose a moratorium and its ultimate goal, suggesting improved land-use planning and public engagement as better alternatives. Betsey Hale, CEO of Cheyenne LEADS, the economic development corporation, strongly opposes the moratorium. Hale argues that data centers are vital for the local economy, generating billions in investment and tax revenue while consuming minimal municipal water. She attributes much of the opposition to a lack of understanding about development processes and alleged foreign interference aiming to disrupt American economic drivers, a claim Madrid says she is not naive enough to dismiss but maintains local concerns are genuine.