Natrona County commissioners took no action on an industrial park plan that would have allowed the proposed Prometheus Hyperscale project to bypass state regulatory oversight. The decision came after Development Director Sabrina Kemper and County Attorney Ashley Smith sought guidance from the commissioners.

Commissioners’ Concerns

Commissioner Casey Coates expressed concerns about taking on the regulatory burden, stating that he prefers the industrial siting process, which provides a more robust ability to scrutinize projects. Commissioner Peter Nicolaysen also raised concerns about the potential problems of allowing developments to be placed broadly across county zoning districts without state oversight.

Kemper provided an update on the Prometheus project, noting that developers indicated the physical data center would likely be located in neighboring Converse County, while Natrona County would be the proposed site for the project’s power plant and worker housing.

Public Comment

Several residents voiced opposition to the data center during public comment, citing concerns about the project’s impact on local water aquifers, noise pollution, and depletion of local wells. Commissioner Dallas Laird informally polled the audience on their support or opposition to the project, with many expressing opposition.

Commissioners thanked the crowd for their advocacy and reiterated their commitment to protecting county residents. Coates stated that the state’s industrial siting process is the most appropriate avenue to handle projects like this, as the county lacks the necessary staffing to fully analyze the issues and impacts.

Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.