How Data Centers Are Shaping Cheyenne's Economic Future

Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins recently told a Wyoming Legislative Committee that data centers offer "huge bang for our buck" and are having a 'transformative impact on Cheyenne and our state."

The mayor mentioned the comments in his weekly "Mayor's Minute" column on Friday.

Collins said in reference to a meeting of the legislature's Joint Revenue Committee "I have spent hours this week to prove what I know to be true – the bang for our buck is huge and is making a transformative impact in Cheyenne and our state."

Under current Wyoming law data centers that make significant capital investments to create their operation get an exemption from sales taxes when they spend at least $2 million annually on servers and related expenses. Collins wrote "The committee is asking the right question: “Is the state and local government getting a good bang for the bucks of sales tax exemptions given?"

According to the website datacentermap.com, Cheyenne is currently home to 11 data centers. The website says Casper, Afton and Evanston have one each for a total of 14 in the state, according to the website.

It looks like Cheyenne will soon have at least one more, as Related Digital is planning a complex in east Cheyenne.

Critics of data centers in Cheyenne have raised questions about the amount of water and electricity the facilities use and how it impacts local resources.

What About The Water?

But Collins, in the August 1 edition of his column downplayed those concerns, writing

"I am pleased to share that in Cheyenne, Black Hills Energy’s tariff was designed to ensure the data centers cover the cost of their development. The tariff, or what data centers pay for electricity, prevents data center expenses from hurting our small businesses and residents by increasing their rates. Historically, data centers cooled their operations using a lot of water. Because Cheyenne faces an uncertain water future, we have asked them to use new technologies for cooling that increase the amount of electricity used but reduce water consumption. They tell me they use a similar amount of water as an office building with the same number of employees'.'

Model Trains Astound & Inspire At Cheyenne Depot

Recently, the depot at Cheyenne, Wyoming, held Depot Days to celebrate the history of one of America's most important railroad stops.

Special thanks to the Slick Rail.

With its many detailed and weathered structures trackside, the Slick X Line O-scale layout is fun for both young and old.

The 40-foot-long modular traveling display was built by five members over a 2-year period, using their 1st letter of each of their names to form the name.

Gallery Credit: Glenn Woods