AI in Wyoming may soon use more electricity than state’s human residents

In a bold move, Cheyenne, Wyoming's Mayor Patrick Collins announced plans for a massive AI data center, which is expected to consume more electricity than all residential homes in the state combined. This ambitious project, a collaboration between energy company Tallgrass and AI data center developer Crusoe, aims to kick off with an initial power requirement of 1.8 gigawatts, ultimately scaling up to a staggering 10 gigawatts. The energy demands of this facility are monumental, particularly for Wyoming, the least populated state in the U.S. The first phase alone, consuming 15.8 terawatt-hours (TWh) annually, exceeds five times the total electricity used by all households in Wyoming. This consumption accounts for a staggering 91 percent of the 17.3 TWh used by the state across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors combined. At full capacity, the data center could require up to 87.6 TWh of electricity each year—more than double the 43.2 TWh that Wyoming currently produces. Due to the impracticality of sourcing this amount of power from the public grid, plans are in place for the facility to utilize its own dedicated gas generation and renewable energy sources. This shift in local energy demand is significant for a state that traditionally exports nearly 60 percent of its generated power to neighboring regions. Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon expressed enthusiasm for the project, highlighting its potential benefits for the natural gas sector. "This is exciting news for Wyoming and for Wyoming natural gas producers," he stated. The proposed site for the AI data center is located just south of Cheyenne, near the Colorado border along US Route 85. While state and local regulators still need to give their approval, Mayor Collins remains optimistic about the project's timeline, indicating a desire for rapid progress. "I believe their plans are to go sooner rather than later," he remarked.