Gov. Gordon: Wyoming Data Centers Making Adjustments On Water Consumption

Gov. Mark Gordon says that while there has been a lot of concern about data centers using water "and rightfully so," southeast Wyoming data centers are making adjustments to address water consumption concerns.

The governor told Wake Up Wyoming host Glenn Woods on Wednesday that ''Related Digital, for example, their new data center, is only going to have six bathrooms of consumptive use."

Related Digital, on a project website for the Cheyenne Facility, says "Our design uses high-efficiency air cooling technology instead of high-water-use evaporative cooling systems."

The governor goes on to say that Microsoft 'has just redesigned some of their work, they are going to yield up 566 million gallons of water from just better design, and not using water consumptively, air cooling. We're up high so our cooling needs are less."

Microsoft recently announced plans for a 3.200 acre expansion of it's operations in Cheyenne. On the website for the Cheyenne expansion project, the company says "Microsoft will minimize its water use and replenish more water than what is used." The article goes on to say it's Wyoming operations use direct evaporative cooling, adding "This design uses water for cooling less than 10% of the year, with the latest datacenter designs going even further, in some cases eliminating the need for ongoing access to water for cooling after an initial fill."

What About Electricity?

The governor says in regard to electricity, companies like Microsoft and Related Digital and others have entered into a Large Power Contract Service tariff agreement with Black Hills Energy 'so they are paying for everything to do with the upgrades, the service and so on. The demand... isn't going to change in terms of what it is going to do to price."

Gordon says the state is working with Black Hills Energy "so that rate payers are not affected."

Hear Glenn Woods' Interview With Gov. Gordon here