Two More Data Centers Possible As Laramie County Planners OK Massive Man Camp

Two more possible data center projects are in the pipeline near Cheyenne even as Laramie County planners voted to recommend approval of a massive 5,600-person man camp to house workers. Laramie County Planning and Development Program Manager Justin Arnold said a 540-acre data center could be coming to Carpenter, a small unincorporated town about 35 miles east of Cheyenne. A separate project to establish a new industrial business park and data center campus at the intersection of southeast Terry Ranch Road and I-25 is being eyed by a developer named Langan.

Both projects were mentioned briefly last week when the county planning commission met to discuss the 800-unit man camp. The commission voted to recommend approval to county commissioners. Arnold said more data centers “coming down the pipe” will only add to workforce numbers. “This does insert itself into the man camp discussion,” he said.

Arnold confirmed that a representative with Truss Energy, a New York-based company, reached out about a potential data center buildout about a mile west of Carpenter. “They’re in the very preliminary stages,” Arnold said, adding that no application has been submitted. “Right now, this company is just doing its due diligence.” A spokesperson with Truss Energy did not respond to messages.

The Bison Ranch project would span 2,775 acres near Terry Ranch Road and I-25. A developer would need a zoning change from agricultural to Planned Unit Development. According to a pre-application letter, the development would likely comprise four single-story buildings with individual footprints of about 700,000 square feet each. Both projects, if approved, would be fueled by natural gas powering large turbines, producing electricity and about 40,000 gallons of water per day.

Arnold told the planning commission, “I want to give you information as to what I’ve seen come across my desk. There are no bonafide applications yet, but I can see the writing on the wall.” He said he is all for data center companies eventually putting their own workforce accommodations on site, but no formal requests have been made. “These are six-figure-paying jobs,” he said. “Electricians, pipefitters. I fear for the cashier on South Greeley Highway working at Safeway who’s going to be priced out as soon as the lease comes up on their rental. I see no other option at this time but to consolidate these workforces now.”

Multiple Laramie County residents spoke in opposition to the proposed man camp. Chris Fischer, who lives in Orchard Valley adjacent to the proposed site, expressed frustration. “They’ve already decided this is the perfect spot for it, regardless of what the residents think,” she told Cowboy State Daily. She said on social media, “I did not feel like our voices were considered or heard at all in any of this.” She was not surprised by the mention of other potential data center projects. “None of it surprises me about anywhere that they’re going to put them,” she said.

Laramie County Commission Chairman Gunnar Malm said commissioners have not seen any documentation regarding the new projects. A public hearing on the man camp recommendation will be held at 3:30 p.m. June 2 at the Historic Courthouse in Cheyenne.