Lummis family could cash in on Microsoft data center expansion through Cheyenne land sales

U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis's family stands to benefit from Microsoft's planned data center expansion in Cheyenne, Wyoming, through the sale of thousands of acres of land. Property records in Laramie County indicate that about 6,000 contiguous acres owned by the Lummis family and associated companies surround an existing Microsoft data center, with Microsoft's 3,200-acre expansion extending into these holdings.

Microsoft's existing data center, established in 2021, was built on 249 acres purchased from the Lummis family in the Bison Business Park. In April, Microsoft announced plans to acquire an additional 200 acres adjacent to this facility and another 3,000 acres nearby. Sen. Lummis, a vocal supporter of the tech industry, blockchain, and AI, has previously sponsored relevant legislation and her family has a long history of ranching and real estate in the area. Her daughter, Annaliese Wiederspahn, serves on the board of Cheyenne LEADS, an economic development corporation.

The rapid growth of data centers in Cheyenne, with estimates of 40 to 70 new facilities, has raised concerns among residents about increased water and energy consumption, as well as significant landscape changes. These community concerns led the Cheyenne City Council to consider a moratorium on new data center development, but the measure was ultimately voted down by local officials.

While Sen. Lummis has acknowledged these concerns, she has publicly advocated for powering America's AI with Wyoming's energy resources, citing the state's coal and potential nuclear power, cool climate, and lack of corporate business tax as advantages for data center development.