{"id":17356,"date":"2026-05-25T09:04:45","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T16:04:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/?p=17356"},"modified":"2026-05-25T09:04:45","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T16:04:45","slug":"opposition-and-pushback-on-data-centers-spreads-beyond-cheyenne-across-wyoming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/2026\/05\/25\/opposition-and-pushback-on-data-centers-spreads-beyond-cheyenne-across-wyoming\/","title":{"rendered":"Opposition And Pushback On Data Centers Spreads Beyond Cheyenne, Across Wyoming"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I think the water use is more than they let on, as they have collection pools and have to cycle out the water as well as using chemicals so it can’t freeze, and they don’t mention the turbines. And the jobs is probably a lie, as I bet we’ll see a lot of new residents with H1-B visas in the communities like I used to see around Intel in California. Sometimes we’d go the Folsom Costco and it would be full of Indians, and it was even starting to be that way at the Rancho Cordova Costco further out. And probably a lot of construction workers will be from out of state… The big problem is that local government officials are working for special interests and not for the citizens they’re supposed to be representing. And really, the push to AI is really about surveillance, as court cases where users committed suicide showed they had the conversations, and how much personal insight are people sharing with AI without comprehension of how its stored and used? Throw in the megacorps pushing employees to use AI, and its a diabolical scheme far beyond what 1984 <\/em>presented to us about our inbound dystopian future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/cowboystatedaily.com\/2026\/05\/23\/opposition-and-pushback-on-data-centers-spreads-beyond-cheyenne-across-wyoming\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n
Opposition to data centers is growing more vocal in Cheyenne \u2014 and spreading across Wyoming to Evanston and Casper. “It\u2019s very creepy what we put up with now that we said we\u2019d never put up with,\u201d\u00a0Sen. Cale Case said about the impacts of AI and tech.<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

By Ren\u00e9e Jean<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Opposition
Opposition to data centers is growing more vocal in Cheyenne \u2014 and spreading across Wyoming to Evanston and Casper. “It\u2019s very creepy what we put up with now that we said we\u2019d never put up with,\u201d Sen. Cale Case says about the impacts of AI and tech. Above, a small data center under construction in east Cheyenne. (Greg Johnson, Cowboy State Daily)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Allyse Taylor went for a Sunday jaunt up Casper Mountain and came across something she doesn\u2019t normally see that made her heart sink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m an avid hiker,\u201d she said. “I\u2019m up there at least three times a week, as soon as it\u2019s warm enough to be up there. This year, the lodgepole pines are all turning yellow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Historically, they do not turn yellow. They are evergreen. We call them \u2018evergreen’ for a reason.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taylor is sure that the ongoing drought with historically low snowfall and record low snowpack is to blame. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To her, it\u2019s a flashing neon warning sign as people in Converse and Natrona counties absorb news of a massive new neighbor \u2014 a 1.5-gigawatt data center and power complex on private ranchland proposed by Wyoming startup Prometheus Hyperscale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think (the yellow pines) are a pretty blatant sign that where we\u2019re at with snowpack, where we\u2019re at with water, is very dangerous,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd any strain on that system from these proposed data centers is something that we cannot have as a community and as a state.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her fears are part of a wider backlash that started in Cheyenne and has been spreading across Wyoming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Residents around industrial-scale data centers proposed near Casper and Evanston are raising a number of questions about whether data centers are right for Wyoming, ranging from water and electricity use to fears of a growing artificial intelligence-powered surveillance society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"As
As the state\u2019s data center industry booms, Wyomingites want to know where the water is coming from. The  Select Water Committee dove into that Thursday, as critics clashed over property rights, supply, and impacts for one of the nation\u2019s driest states. Above, work continues Friday, May 8, 2026, at the site of a Meta data center being built in south Cheyenne. (Greg Johnson, Cowboy State Daily)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Water Worries Go Beyond Cooling<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Taylor has heard Prometheus\u2019 public assurances that its Wyoming data campuses will rely on closed-loop cooling systems designed to use far less water than older, evaporative designs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taylor\u2019s questions go beyond just cooling the data centers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She wonders about the water footprint for the gas-fired power plants Prometheus has said it will use to power its Casper campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf these data centers require 1.5 gigawatts of power, where is the energy for that going to come from?\u201d she asked. \u201cWhat kind of water usage will that energy require?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“And how is that going to affect not only our water throughout the state when we\u2019re in such a terrible drought, but how is that going to affect every other facet of life that would go into that electrical load?\u201d Taylor asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Wyoming
Wyoming exports 15 times more energy than it consumes but is falling behind in providing power for its own economic development, like data centers. (Greg Johnson, Cowboy State Daily)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Big Muddy Petition: \u2018We Chose This Place To Call Home\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

She\u2019s not the only one with questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Casper already has a petition circulating that seeks to stop Prometheus Hyperscale with a couple hundred signatures on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The petition\u2019s author is listed at change.org as Charlotte Naylor, who did not respond to Cowboy State Daily inquiries for comment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In her petition, she identifies herself as a resident of Big Muddy Creek Ranchettes who is deeply concerned about the data center, which will be adjacent to her property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She fears it will ruin the tranquility and environment of her neighborhood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMany of us moved here for the peace and natural beauty,\u201d she wrote. \u201cThis project jeopardizes the very reasons we chose this place to call home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She believes the data center should concern others as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe construction and operation of a data center can introduce numerous issues, including noise pollution, increased traffic and environmental degradation,\u201d she wrote. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese factors not only disrupt daily life but also potentially lower property values and detract from the pristine quality of our surroundings,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Naylor also questions water usage, as well as power consumption, which she fears could lead to higher costs for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe urge our local officials to reconsider this project and explore alternative locations that do not encroach upon residential areas or natural landscapes,\u201d she wrote. \u201cIt is crucial for community voices to be heard and for us to stand together in opposition to a project that does not align with our community\u2019s best interests and values.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Construction
Construction is well underway in south Cheyenne on Meta’s mega data center called Project Cosmo. An agreement announced Friday between TerraPower and Meta forup to eight advanced nuclear reactors across the U.S. has put Cheyenne in position to become home to a dual-unit Natrium nuclear plant, a TerraPower executive told Cowboy State Daily. (Greg Johnson, Cowboy State Daily)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Cheyenne Moratorium Debate<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The concerns now surfacing in Natrona County along Big Muddy Creek and in Uinta County near the Utah border echo a debate that\u2019s already been stewing in Cheyenne for the better part of a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That culminated Monday in debate of a proposed 12-month moratorium<\/a> on new data centers in Cheyenne, which drew hours of emotional testimony. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hearing pitted union workers excited about jobs against neighbors worried about water and power use, as well as the overall pace of construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supporters of the moratorium said Cheyenne needs to take some time to study cumulative impacts on water, power, zoning and local workforce, while opponents said a pause like that would threaten hundreds of high-paying construction jobs already in the pipeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, the committee failed to make any recommendation for or against the moratorium, which will go back to the full City Council for a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The discussion highlighted gaps in state law that the legislature should address, Rep. Daniel Singh, R-Cheyenne told Cowboy State Daily. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn both sides you had some people saying, \u2018We appreciate the jobs, but there are issues that this particular industry brings,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cAnd I thought it was really interesting to hear that. So, I think that we as state lawmakers should be looking at what needs to change when it comes to Title 35, 37 and 41.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“But I\u2019m glad that Cheyenne took the lead in talking about this issue,\u201d Singh added. “I think everyone agrees that there just needs to be more education on existing procedures and the actual impacts that these projects are having in Cheyenne.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Microsoft's
Microsoft’s data center in the Cheyenne Business Parkway business park in east Cheyenne. (Greg Johnson, Cowboy State Daily)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Company Says \u2018Avalanche\u2019 Of Misinformation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Prometheus Hyperscale President Trevor Neilson has described the data center\u2019s cooling load in terms of only a few households\u2019 worth of water, rather than the \u201cbazillions\u201d that residents fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neilson said he\u2019s seen an avalanche of outright misinformation online about Prometheus\u2019 data centers, and said his team is working hard to meet face-to-face to discuss people\u2019s concerns and give accurate information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prometheus Founder Trenton Thornock, meanwhile, has touted his family\u2019s five generations of farming and ranching in Uinta County and said nothing is more important to him than doing things \u201csustainably.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOther people may not have that goal, but that\u2019s one of the ways that we\u2019ve crafted our design is to not use any water,\u201d he said. \u201cYou know, we\u2019re a ranching family, so we want to stay away from (hogging water).\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As far as the water usage of energy generation, Neilson told Cowboy State Daily that the data centers will use closed-loop systems for cooling, and will not be water hogs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Construction
Construction is underway on a $1.2 billion Related Digital data center in the Cheyenne Business Parkway. (Greg Johnson, Cowboy State Daily)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Face-To-Face Meetings Planned<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe really want to hear what people have to say,\u201d Neilson added. \u201cThat\u2019s why we have been out meeting with people in person in Casper \u2026 in a factual manner, both addressing their concerns, but then reminding them of the thousands of jobs that will be created through these projects.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Evanston-area data center doesn\u2019t have any adjacent neighbors, Neilson said, though there are a few in Casper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn terms of people who are within a kilometer of the proposed site near Casper, if all of those people haven\u2019t been directly met with, there\u2019s a process underway to meet with them in person,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those discussions will include information about earthworks to shield the site from neighbors\u2019 view, as well as proactive measures ensuring that the noise is less than that which already runs alongside the site from the highway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe flip side of it is this is a project that\u2019s on private land,\u201d Neilson said. \u201cAnd it\u2019s in accordance with all the laws associated with private land. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo, I think the desire to engage with people is going to be consistent throughout both projects, and throughout the process associated with both projects.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"As
As the state\u2019s data center industry booms, Wyomingites want to know where the water is coming from. The  Select Water Committee dove into that Thursday, as critics clashed over property rights, supply, and impacts for one of the nation\u2019s driest states. Above, work continues Friday, May 8, 2026, at the site of a Meta data center being built in south Cheyenne. (Greg Johnson, Cowboy State Daily)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Fueling Hopes With New Jobs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jobs are what has Eric Wyatt of Lyman supporting the Prometheus Hyperscale project near Evanston. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His son wants to go into cybersecurity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before Prometheus, Wyatt said they\u2019d already been talking about how his son would likely have to leave the state to find a suitable job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now with data centers on the horizon in Cheyenne, Evanston, and Casper, they think he might be able to get a job in Wyoming instead, maybe even close to home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That would feel like a miracle to this family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf we want our kids to stay in the state, we have to bring in those jobs that they\u2019re looking for,\u201d Wyatt said. \u201cBut also let\u2019s say it\u2019s not just 100 employees, but potentially 100 families moving to the area.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those families will be looking for ways to spend money, Wyatt said, and that can turn into more jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf people are spending money with Uinta County, people might decide, \u2018I can open up my business and I know I\u2019ll be successful,\u2019\u201d Wyatt said. \u201cAnd then what happens is that money stays here in the county.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wyatt has also talked to other students about their plans after graduation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think there\u2019s three out of probably 20 or so who are planning to stay in the area,\u201d Wyatt said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That figure doesn\u2019t bode well for future enrollment in area schools, which are projecting lower and lower enrollments ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need more kids coming into our schools, but families can\u2019t get the jobs they\u2019re looking for here,\u201d he said. \u201cYou look at Lyman, and it has one restaurant in the town. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“But if there\u2019s more people who live here, all of a sudden a new restaurant can open up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Microsoft
Microsoft built Cheyenne\u2019s first data center. (Greg Johnson, Cowboy State Daily)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pushing Back Against The Surveillance Society<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For some opponents, though, the issue with AI goes much deeper than power, water, or land use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also become about the kind of society they want to live in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne of the major concerns that I have with data centers is their use, like what it is that they\u2019re storing,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cThe expansion of the surveillance state is something that is a deep concern to myself and many other individuals within our community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As she sees it, AI is hurting people\u2019s cognition, taking away entry-level jobs, and leading to questionable practices by businesses, which are seeking to commoditize everything they can about a person\u2019s data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think they\u2019re helping anyone out,\u201d she said. \u201cLike we, especially in Wyoming, really value individual liberties and individual freedoms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The expansion of constantly being watched through all of our devices, and cities getting this network of Flock cameras \u2014 if you are constantly being surveilled, and that data is constantly being stored, how does that protect your individual liberty and your individual freedom?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s because of issues like that state Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander, has warned that Wyoming is lagging behind on digital privacy protections for consumers, even as it markets itself as a tech-friendly state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not necessarily on point to the data center construction itself, but every place you go to buy something, they want you to be part of their membership,\u201d he said. “You have to give your phone number at the grocery store or your email so that you get targeted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Geo-targeting, meanwhile, is honing directly in on everyone\u2019s phone, tracking where people go and building consumer profiles, all the better to target advertising. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople talked about being worried when you got vaccines that the government was putting microchips in you,\u201d Case said. \u201cWell, you carry the microchip around in your pocket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It\u2019s very creepy what we put up with now that we said we\u2019d never put up with.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I think the water use is more than they let on, as they have collection pools and have to cycle out the water as well as using chemicals so it can’t freeze, and they don’t mention the turbines. And the jobs is probably a lie, as I bet we’ll see a lot of new residents […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,7,31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17356","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tech","category-world","category-wyoming"],"blocksy_meta":[],"featured_image_src":null,"author_info":{"display_name":"Jason","author_link":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/author\/jturning\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17356","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17356"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17356\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17357,"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17356\/revisions\/17357"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17356"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17356"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17356"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}