Laramie County commissioners unanimously signed off this week on a massive new AI data center project that will reshape hundreds of acres outside Cheyenne – and potentially Wyoming’s role in the nation’s tech and energy future, Wyoming Public Media reports.
The vote clears the way for a 600-acre artificial intelligence data center and an accompanying 659-acre power plant, a combined 1.8-gigawatt project proposed by Crusoe, with Tallgrass as a partner. Because of the project’s sheer size and potential impacts, county approval was required.
Commission Chair Gunnar Malm called the development a big win for the state.
“This is actually an exciting project,” Malm said, pointing to federal momentum around expanding AI capacity in the US “It’s kind of driven by the administration and Washington’s desire for us to expand our AI capabilities throughout the United States.”
One of the biggest selling points for county leaders was how the project ties directly into Wyoming’s traditional energy industry. The on-site power plant will run on natural gas produced in Wyoming, and that power will stay in the state rather than being exported elsewhere.
“By and large, lots of Wyoming gas… instead of producing power that’s shipped out of the state, will be utilized right here in Laramie County and in Wyoming,” Malm said.
Commissioners were also reassured that local energy bills won’t increase, and that water use will be minimal, thanks to newer cooling technologies. Malm estimated the system would require the equivalent of about 23 homes’ worth of water initially, with only three homes’ worth per year to replenish it.
Beyond jobs and energy, Malm framed the data center as part of a broader national defense picture.
“The battle for electrons is the 21st-century battlefield,” he said. “Laramie County has always played a huge role in that, with our nuclear deterrence and F.E. Warren. This is just a new front in that global struggle.”
Commissioner Ty Zwonitzer echoed that sentiment in a statement, saying the project fits squarely within Wyoming’s identity and long-standing industries, adding that it checks “all of the boxes.”
Construction could start soon. Malm said he expects shovels in the ground within 60 to 90 days.
According to Crusoe and Tallgrass, construction will generate about 5,000 jobs, and the developers have said workers will not be housed in man camps. Once operational, the facility is expected to support around 400 permanent jobs.
For Cheyenne and Laramie County, the unanimous vote signals a clear message: Wyoming wants a seat at the table in the rapidly expanding AI economy – and it plans to power that future with homegrown energy.
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