"Concerns about siting, water and electricity demand have led to calls for more oversight of data center construction in the Cowboy State, but not alignment on how to achieve it."
"CODY, Wyo. — On a warm October evening at a bar in downtown Cody, Wyomingites gathered to ponder the future of what some hope will be the Cowboy State’s next booming industry: data centers.
This summer, outgoing Gov. Mark Gordon signed an executive order titled “Data Centers the Wyoming Way” that he said would “guide responsible development in Wyoming,” while keeping the state an attractive landing spot for the enormous server warehouses that power the AI industry.
Data centers’ potential impacts on Wyoming’s precious water supply, already-rising electricity prices and prized public lands have rankled many corners of the state. Gordon acknowledged those concerns in a statement accompanying the release of the order, which is not binding.
Environmental groups in Wyoming agree that there need to be more guardrails on data center development, but they are not fully aligned on how to achieve that goal. "
Jake Bolster reports for Inside Climate News October 19, 2026.
