Google to Spend $17 Billion in Wyoming

Google confirmed Thursday it will invest $17 billion to build its first data center in southeast Wyoming. The project will anchor a large-scale computing hub in Laramie County, near Terry Ranch Road.

The first phase of the buildout is a 702-megawatt facility. Google stated this initial site will use fuel-cell technology to convert natural gas into electricity. The company plans to permanently sequester the resulting carbon dioxide emissions deep underground.

Google is partnering with four entities for this long-term investment plan. The group includes natural gas pipeline company Tallgrass Energy, electric utilities Black Hills Energy and American Electric Power, and data center developer Related Digital.

Addressing water usage concerns, the company said the Wyoming facility will be air-cooled. This design aims to minimize strain on local water resources. Google also committed to paying for 100% of the power it uses and covering infrastructure needs driven by its growth.

Cheyenne City Councilman Larry Wolfe said local officials have discussed the project with Google and its partners for the past year. He noted that Tallgrass has already begun preliminary dirt work in preparation for the site.

Google officials met with more than 200 Laramie County residents before the announcement. The company said these meetings helped tailor the plans for local families and businesses.

The announcement arrives amid a wave of data center development across the state. The Cheyenne area already has 10 data centers in operation, with more than a dozen in planning. A University of Wyoming poll published last week found that only 30% of residents support allowing more large AI data centers to be built.

Wolfe described the local reaction to recent proposals as cynical. He noted that previous announcements often involved figures like $10 billion or $20 billion. He said the magnitude of this specific project stands out to the community.