Data Center Signal is tracking 33 clips about Black Hills Energy data center developments across 3 states, including WY, MT, SD.
Black Hills Energy plans to invest $1.8 billion between 2027 and 2029 to support Google’s proposed data center in Cheyenne. The investment would add 564 megawatts of natural-gas generation at the Cheyenne Prairie Generating Station, with agreements intended to protect existing customers from related costs.
Developers ViaWest Group and Skybox Datacenters provided an update to the Cheyenne City Council on their proposed Cox Ranch data center project, discussing ongoing community engagement, water usage plans, and infrastructure commitments. The project requires further city approvals, including a postponed annexation decision, before construction can begin. Developers also presented a document outlining their community commitments in response to council and community concerns.
Data center developers and local utility officials addressed community concerns at a Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce luncheon. The discussion focused on the impacts of the growing data center industry, particularly regarding water use, electricity costs, and environmental effects. Companies highlighted new technologies to reduce water consumption and committed to paying for necessary infrastructure investments.
Data center developers and utility officials addressed community concerns in Cheyenne, Wyoming, regarding water usage, electricity costs, and environmental impacts. Companies like Related Digital, Meta, and Microsoft detailed their efforts to reduce water consumption and mitigate environmental footprints, while Black Hills Energy clarified that data centers pay for necessary grid infrastructure. The forum aimed to provide accurate information amidst growing data center development in the area.
Wyoming is grappling with how to regulate power supply for large-scale data centers and AI operations. Developers are proposing dedicated power plants to meet massive electrical demands, but state officials lack a clear regulatory framework. The Wyoming Public Service Commission recently rejected a request from Anschutz Corporation regarding its proposed power project, citing a need for new 'non-utility generator' rules.
Google has been revealed as the owner of the 2.7-gigawatt data center previously known as Project Jade, now Project Tembo, located near Cheyenne, Wyoming. The massive campus is undergoing site plan amendments with Laramie County, with a hearing scheduled for an additional office support facility permit. The project highlights Cheyenne's emergence as a tech hub, drawing concerns about infrastructure planning.
A new 15-megawatt data center by Sequitor Edge is planned for Rapid City, South Dakota, amidst a significant drought straining the regional power grid. Black Hills Energy, the utility provider, states it has the capacity to meet the increased demand, citing its experience with other large data center customers and its long-term planning. Sequitor Edge claims its facility will be highly energy-efficient.
Black Hills Energy is preparing for a significant increase in power demand from data centers in Wyoming, including "Project Jade." The utility relies on its decade-old "large-load tariff" which requires data centers to fund all necessary infrastructure, thereby insulating existing ratepayers from increased costs. This system, previously applied to Microsoft's data center, is being tested as projects scale to gigawatt capacities.
Wyoming is grappling with an unprecedented demand for electricity from massive data centers, including projects from Meta and Microsoft, that could soon consume more power than the entire state currently uses. State regulators and utilities are seeking solutions to accommodate this growth without affecting residential consumers, while U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis has introduced a federal bill to standardize how large power users connect to the grid.
Cheyenne city officials have advanced annexation and rezoning requests for nearly 3,460 acres to facilitate Microsoft's long-term data center expansion. The decision was made despite significant community opposition regarding water usage, noise, wildlife impact, and the scale of development, with a final council meeting scheduled for June 6.
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon and Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins toured the $1.2 billion Related Digital data center campus in Cheyenne, highlighting its nearing completion and state-of-the-art features. The facility, which will provide 420 megawatts of computational capacity for CoreWeave, emphasizes efficiency in energy and water use with a closed-loop cooling system. Leaders also discussed the project's economic impact, including tax revenue, job creation, and a $3.5 million commitment to affordable housing in Cheyenne.
Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins discusses various aspects of data center development in the city, including community concerns about water and electricity usage, environmental impacts, and local government interactions. He highlights a site visit by a Colorado delegation and a tour of a Related Digital data center under construction.
Crusoe, a founding partner, quietly exited the 2.7-gigawatt Project Jade data center near Cheyenne, Wyoming. Despite Crusoe's departure, other partners, Tallgrass Energy and Black Hills Energy, confirm that the project is continuing full steam ahead. The massive data center will have its own natural-gas-fired power plant and use a closed-loop cooling system to minimize environmental impact.
Rural residents north of Cheyenne, Wyoming, are strongly opposing a proposed natural gas power plant by Black Hills Energy, fearing it will industrialize their agricultural community and potentially power future data centers. A contentious meeting revealed unanimous local opposition, with residents expressing concerns about water usage, emissions, noise, and the impact on property values and the area's character. The project is in its early stages and will undergo a multi-year state review process.
Local leaders and industry officials in Cheyenne, Wyoming, argue that data centers are lowering electricity costs for residents, stabilizing water rates, and enabling affordable housing development. This perspective comes amid citizen concerns about water scarcity, energy demand, and housing affordability, which have led to a petition for a data center moratorium. The debate highlights the economic and social impacts of rapid digital infrastructure growth in the region.
Cheyenne, Wyoming, hosted a public panel with city officials, utility staff, and industry experts to address community concerns regarding data center growth. The discussion covered development oversight, zoning processes, water and energy consumption, and environmental impacts. Key takeaways included the city's "do no harm" standard for developers and the economic benefits for the community.
The City of Cheyenne hosted a public panel to address growing community concerns regarding the influx of data centers in Laramie County. Key topics discussed included water and electricity usage, zoning processes, environmental impacts, and noise regulations. City officials, utility representatives, and data center industry figures sought to clarify misconceptions and assure residents about the economic and environmental impacts.
Wyoming lawmakers are considering a bill to deregulate electricity for large industrial users, including data centers, to address power demands and reliability issues. The proposal would allow some electricity producers to operate outside public utility regulations if serving high-demand customers. Utilities oppose the bill, citing concerns about financial risks to ratepayers.
The Montana Public Service Commission concluded hearings on a proposed merger between NorthWestern Energy and Black Hills Energy. Opponents, including environmental groups, warned the merger could open the door for more data centers, burdening ratepayers with electricity costs. The commission will decide in coming months whether the merger is in the public interest.
Cheyenne City Councilor Mark Moody has sponsored a one-year moratorium on new data center construction in Cheyenne, Wyoming. This proposal comes amidst circulating petitions and growing concerns about the long-term impacts of rapid data center expansion on the city's power grid, water supply, land use, and security. The moratorium aims to allow time for comprehensive planning and impact studies.