Wyoming's Data Gamble: Self-Powered AI Hub Promises Billions, Stirs Debate

LYMAN, WY – June 18, 2026 – In a move that could reshape Wyoming's economic landscape, the Uinta County Board of Commissioners has unanimously approved a Conditional Use Permit for Prometheus Hyperscale's flagship data center campus. The decision greenlights a colossal 1.25-gigawatt facility near Evanston, with plans to eventually scale to an almost unimaginable 5 GW. While the company heralds this as a triumph of community engagement and innovative design, the project's ambitious promises of self-sufficiency and immense economic benefit are being met with both hope and deep-seated skepticism in this quiet corner of the American West.

The unanimous vote on June 17 represents a critical victory for Prometheus, allowing the developer to sidestep the regulatory gridlock that often plagues large-scale infrastructure. "This unanimous approval reflects the strength of the project's fundamentals and the depth of community engagement we've built in Uinta County," said Trevor Neilson, President of Prometheus Hyperscale, in a statement following the decision.

But the smooth passage through the commission chambers belies a more complex reality on the ground. The project, designed to power the voracious computational needs of the artificial intelligence era, is a high-stakes test of a new model for industrial development—one that attempts to solve the very problems it creates.

A Blueprint for Approval

At the heart of Prometheus Hyperscale's successful pitch is a design that preemptively addresses the two biggest flashpoints for modern data centers: power and water. Instead of plugging into the already-strained public utility grid, the 506-acre campus will operate as a fully islanded microgrid. It plans to generate all its power on-site using high-efficiency natural gas engines and turbines.

This 'off-grid' approach is a strategic masterstroke, eliminating the lengthy and uncertain process of securing an interconnection agreement with a public utility. To tackle the carbon footprint of using natural gas, Prometheus has partnered with PureWest Energy for its gas supply and Frontier Carbon Solutions for carbon capture and sequestration, aiming for carbon-neutral operations. The initial phase alone is projected to require the removal of over 500,000 tons of carbon annually.

Equally ambitious is the company's solution to the industry's notorious thirst for water. The Evanston campus will employ a closed-loop liquid cooling architecture, which the company claims requires no draw from local water supplies. The total projected water consumption for the entire campus is a startlingly low figure—equivalent to the annual usage of just 15 homes. According to founder Trenton Thornock, water will be circulated from on-site wells through the plant for cooling and then returned to the ground, a non-consumptive process designed to shield community water sources.

This technical architecture was key to securing regulatory backing. "We've been methodical about building the right foundation here, and today's unanimous vote validates that approach," said Thornock. "The site selection, community engagement, technical design, and economic structure were all built to clear the bar in a market where community and regulatory risk is increasingly the differentiating variable. We cleared it unanimously."

The Billion-Dollar Question

Driving the project forward are staggering economic projections. A study by the University of Wyoming's Center for Business and Economic Analysis forecasts a $3.1 billion economic impact by 2032. Construction is expected to generate nearly 8,000 direct jobs and over $184 million in state tax revenue. Once operational, the facility is projected to contribute $53 million in annual state tax revenue and create hundreds of high-paying permanent jobs.

For a county looking to diversify its economy, these numbers are tantalizing. Yet, during public comment sessions, local sentiment was starkly divided. For every resident who saw an economic lifeline, another saw a potential threat. Concerns ranged from the practical—noise and light pollution, the strain of an influx of temporary workers, and the potential for a 'man camp'—to more existential fears about water contamination, national security, and the nature of the data being processed within the facility's walls.

Some residents voiced deep skepticism, fearing that the company’s promises were too good to be true and that the community would ultimately be left "holding the bag" if the advanced, self-contained systems failed or the economic benefits didn't materialize as promised. This tension highlights the core challenge for Prometheus: winning not just a permit, but the long-term trust of the community it plans to call home.

From Energy Heartland to AI Hub

This project is more than just a single data center; it's a flagship development in Wyoming's broader strategy to pivot from its legacy as an energy state to a future as a digital infrastructure powerhouse. With its cool climate, abundant land, and vast natural gas reserves, Wyoming is positioning itself as an ideal location for the AI industry's massive power needs. The state has already attracted giants like Meta and Microsoft, and another major 1.8 GW project, Crusoe's Project Jade, is in development.

Prometheus, led by a team that includes founder Trenton Thornock of a sixth-generation ranching family, former BP CEO Bernard Looney, and sustainability expert Trevor Neilson, is leaning into this narrative with its "Build Wyoming" initiative. The Evanston campus is just the first of multiple planned sites, including another in Casper and a project in Texas.

By generating its own power from natural gas—a resource Wyoming has in abundance—and capturing the associated carbon, the project creates a new, high-value domestic market for the state's primary industry. It’s a model that, if proven successful, could be replicated across the energy-rich landscapes of the American interior. The success or failure of the Evanston campus will therefore be watched closely, not just by the residents of Uinta County, but by an entire industry grappling with how to sustainably power the future.