Wyoming Issues Executive Order to Guide AI Data Center Development
The order requires developers to pay extra power costs and directs agencies to propose water-saving and customer protections within 60 days.
- On Wednesday, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon signed an executive order titled "Data Centers the Wyoming Way," establishing a statewide framework to manage large-scale computing infrastructure development.
- The directive follows local pushback against rapid industrial development, including a recent Cheyenne City Council debate over a proposed 12-month moratorium on new data center projects due to resource concerns.
- Establishing the "Wyoming Data Center Development Framework," the order mandates developers minimize water consumption and requires state agencies to submit policy recommendations within 60 days.
- Developers must now pay all additional costs to supply power to large-load projects, insulating residential and small-business utility customers from funding grid upgrades.
- As four of the "Magnificent 7" tech companies invest billions in AI infrastructure annually, Wyoming officials seek to balance this economic opportunity with protection of the state's natural resources.
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Guest Column: Gordon Gets It Wrong Again by Trying to Fast-Track Data Centers
Sen. Sheri Steinmetz writes, "Despite public concern over water, electricity rates, land use, infrastructure impacts, etc., the governor appears determined to fast-track data center development under the banner of doing it 'the Wyoming way.'"
Oil City News
Cap City NewsGov. Gordon signs order to manage Wyoming's data center growth
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Gov. Mark Gordon signed an executive order Wednesday creating a statewide framework to manage data center growth. The directive, called “Data Centers the Wyoming Way,” orders state agencies to coordinate regulation as tech companies eye the state for its cool climate and energy. “As America races to build the infrastructure needed to support advanced computing, artificial intelligence, and our nation’s rapidly growing digital ec…
Gov. Gordon demands data center developers 'do it the Wyoming way'
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon issued an executive order Wednesday directing state agencies to coordinate efforts to ensure that a boom in data center development here doesn’t raise electrical rates for existing customers, harm communities, degrade natural resources or threaten water supplies. Gordon signed Executive Order 2026-03, “Data Centers the Wyoming Way,” Wednesday morning. Effective immediately, the five-page order outlines principles “to ens…
Wyoming Governor Signs Data Center Order
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon (R) signed an executive order Wednesday that establishes the Wyoming Data Center Development Framework and requires executive agencies in the state to consider eight principles when overseeing the development of data centers there. ...
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