Technology giant Google will build its first data center in southeast Wyoming, and potentially invest $17 billion in computing centers here.
The company confirmed its Equality State data center plans Thursday afternoon, “designed to deliver lasting benefits for Laramie County families and businesses.”
“We’re committed to partnering with communities to build data centers the right way,” the company said in a prepared statement. “We will pay for 100% of the power we use, and when we build data centers, we’ll cover the infrastructure needs directly driven by our growth.”
It was unclear as of press time Google’s timeframe for building the first facility and how long it might take to complete its $17 billion buildout near Terry Ranch Road in Laramie County.
The news comes amid a whirlwind of data center speculation throughout much of the state, including in the Cheyenne area, where the industry is already established, with 10 in operation and more than a dozen on the planning books.
The bevy of data centers has provoked a backlash in Wyoming and elsewhere. Prominent politicians, including Secretary of State and soon-to-be Congressman Chuck Gray, have come out in opposition to new AI data centers in Wyoming. A University of Wyoming poll published last week found only 30% of residents here supported allowing the construction of more large data centers for AI technology.
Google says it is partnering with natural gas pipeline company Tallgrass Energy, electric utility Black Hills Energy, American Electric Power and data center developer Related Digital for the “long-term” investment plan.
The first step is a 702-megawatt facility, powered by fuel-cell technology — converting natural gas into electricity — and a plan to permanently sequester electrical generation emissions deep underground, the company said. Tallgrass is already developing a carbon dioxide sequestration hub in Wyoming, it noted.
Regarding water consumption — a major concern among Wyomingites — Google said, “our Wyoming data center will be air-cooled to minimize strain on local water resources.”
Prior to Thursday’s announcement, Google officials met with “more than 200 residents in Laramie County” to gather feedback to tailor its plans, the company said.
Local officials have been in discussions with Google and its partners for the past year, Cheyenne City Councilman Larry Wolfe told WyoFile. Project partner Tallgrass has already begun some dirt work in preparation, he said, and Thursday’s announcement feels like a confirmation from Google.
“You know, we’re not easily dazzled anymore,” Wolfe said. “I will tell you that it’s $10 billion here, $20 billion there. What it’s done is it has made us really cynical about projects that aren’t of that magnitude.”
