TLDRs:
Contents
- Massive AI data center proposed near Cheyenne may use more power than all homes in Wyoming.
- Project led by Tallgrass and Crusoe could scale up to 10 gigawatts of electricity use.
- Facility will rely on dedicated gas and renewables to avoid straining the public grid.
- Officials say project could boost Wyoming’s natural gas economy and reshape energy infrastructure.
A massive artificial intelligence data center planned for southern Wyoming could soon eclipse the state’s entire electricity consumption, according to state officials.
The facility, proposed by US energy infrastructure firm Tallgrass and AI data center specialist Crusoe, would be located just south of Cheyenne, near the Colorado border.
In its first phase, the center is projected to consume 1.8 gigawatts of power, but it could eventually reach up to 10 gigawatts. For context, that’s more than the entire power generation capacity of Wyoming, a state known for exporting energy to others.
Despite its potential size, the facility won’t lean on the state’s power grid. Instead, it will operate using dedicated natural gas and renewable energy sources, insulating the public from possible grid strain. This model reflects a growing trend where energy-hungry AI infrastructure seeks independence from public utilities.
High-Energy Demand Signals AI’s Real-World Weight
The Wyoming project represents a tangible shift in the physical footprint of AI. As AI models grow larger and more complex, so does the need for computing power, and electricity. Experts estimate that AI-focused data centers will consume over 1,050 terawatt-hours of electricity globally by 2026, equivalent to the consumption of many mid-sized countries.
At full scale, the Wyoming facility is expected to draw an astounding 87.6 terawatt-hours annually, placing it among the largest energy consumers on Earth. This isn’t just a technical or business story, it’s an energy story, reshaping where and how data centers are built.
Governor Mark Gordon has praised the project, seeing it as a boon to Wyoming’s natural gas economy. While Cheyenne has attracted past data center investments, this project signals the next frontier in computing infrastructure, where energy access, not urban proximity, is king.
From Energy Exporter to AI Powerhouse
Wyoming’s unique energy profile plays a critical role in this transformation. The state produces 12 times more energy than it consumes, making it the third-largest net energy supplier in the US.
Nearly 60% of its electricity is exported to other states, thanks to an energy infrastructure built on fossil fuels and increasing renewables.
The project is still awaiting regulatory approval, but its backers are confident. Crusoe and Tallgrass have yet to reveal the facility’s end users, though rumors suggest a possible connection to OpenAI’s Stargate initiative, a next-generation supercomputing project designed for frontier AI models. While unconfirmed, the speculation alone highlights the project’s strategic importance.
Crusoe, Tallgrass Look to Rewire Data Center Economics
Unlike traditional cloud infrastructure focused on proximity to urban tech hubs, this initiative reflects a new economic model for AI infrastructure, build where power is cheap and abundant.
With $24 billion already poured into data infrastructure along the I-80 corridor, Wyoming is emerging as an unlikely AI powerhouse.
Should the project proceed, it may redefine how states leverage their natural resources in the age of AI, shifting Wyoming’s identity from a coal and gas exporter to a global digital infrastructure provider.
