CASPER, Wyoming – During Tuesday’s Natrona County Board of Commissioners meeting, residents voiced strong opposition to a proposed $500 million hyperscale data center that would sit on 940 acres of the Falls Ranch south of Interstate 25. The developers, Prometheus Hyperscale, represented by founder Trenton Thornock, and Build Wyoming director Eric Schlidt, asked the board to approve an industrial‑park zoning designation that would keep the project out of state industrial‑siting review and speed construction.
Developers argue for county‑level oversight
Thornock emphasized that keeping permitting authority at the county level would streamline the process while preserving local control. He assured commissioners that state agencies such as the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality would still enforce environmental standards.
Neighbors raise concerns about noise, light and property values
Local landowners and residents described a range of worries. Kris Hool, who lives about 1.2 miles east of the proposed site, criticized the shift in Prometheus’s energy plan and warned that operating hundreds of gas generators alongside millions of gallons of backup diesel fuel could disrupt the community. “We certainly didn’t invest our life savings to watch our home and way of life be turned upside down by a project like this,” Hool said.
Erika Cook, a neighboring ranch owner, argued that property rights do not give owners a license to create nuisances for their neighbors. “Should I have the right to build a toxic waste facility on my land? Obviously not,” she said. Cook added that the project would consume nearly 1,000 acres of agricultural land, generate 24‑hour noise, seismic vibration, light and industrial pollution, and would be an eyesore to farms, families and prairie wildlife.
Resident Joyce Angelus expressed conditional support for data centers that blend into the community but opposed a hyperscale facility that could become a drain on local resources. She questioned whether the 150 long‑term jobs projected for the site would remain on‑site or become remote positions in the future.
Commissioners weigh benefits against potential harms
Commissioner Peter Nicolaysen acknowledged the public’s concerns, noting that the board has not yet received a formal application from the developer. “We have very little information about what the plan is, what the proposal is,” he said, emphasizing the need for transparency before any decision is made.
While recognizing that the project could generate property‑tax revenue for Natrona County, Nicolaysen said the board must balance that upside against possible burdens and risks, adding, “Whether that outweighs the burdens and some of the risks and damages and whether those can be mitigated, we’ll have to see.”
Commissioner Dallas Laird stressed the importance of protecting private property rights while also safeguarding residents. “I am a believer that a man can do with his property whatever he wants and also I’m a believer that I don’t approve of a person doing something with his property that harms others,” Laird said. He called for any developer promises to be put in writing before the board would consider them credible.
Commissioner Casey Coates cautioned against letting emotion drive the decision‑making process. He urged the board and the public to focus on concrete impacts rather than broad fears, stating, “If we let our emotions run us and we don’t come to things with logical conclusions and fact‑based decisions, then we really risk missing the mark.”
Next steps for the proposal
If Prometheus submits an official application, the plan will undergo a multi‑month review by the Natrona County Planning and Zoning Commission, followed by additional public hearings before returning to the commissioners for a final vote. The board’s current stance is to gather more information, weigh the potential economic benefits against the expressed community concerns, and ensure any final decision reflects both fiscal responsibility and the well‑being of local residents.
Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.
