Cheyenne, Wyoming Residents Demand Pause on 70 Planned Data Centers

A petition demands a pause on 70 data centers planned in Laramie County.

Local residents, policymakers, and business leaders in Cheyenne are calling for a moratorium amid concerns about rapid development, transparency, and community impacts. This challenge signals a potential shift in how the region manages land use and infrastructure related to data center growth.

Heather Madrid, the petition organizer, reports hundreds of signatures gathered within two weeks, aiming for 7,000 in total. Councilman Larry Wolfe notes as many as 70 projects at various stages, with some sites involving annexation of large land parcels like Cox Ranch’s 1,200 acres. Critics argue that current regulations do not adequately address the cumulative effects on water, power, and community services. Meanwhile, Cheyenne LEADS CEO Betsey Hale counters that newer data centers employ advanced technology such as closed-loop cooling and emphasize the need for updated land use planning rather than moratoriums.

Petition organizers continue collecting signatures as city officials reconsider annexation decisions and the state legislature plans to revisit electricity tax policies connected to data centers.

Though Montana is not mentioned in these discussions, similar rural economies dependent on land and energy resources might face comparable debates over data center expansion. Montana businesses and policymakers could watch Wyoming’s unfolding experience to assess regulatory approaches and balance growth with community and environmental concerns.

With Up To 70 Cheyenne-Area Data Centers In The Works, Petition Calls For Pause
By @daily_cowboy, Cowboy State Daily