Guest Column: Wyoming Should Not Fear Artificial Intelligence Or Data Centers
Guest Column: Wyoming Should Not Fear Artificial Intelligence Or Data Centers
Publish Date: 2026-06-07 14:38:00
Source Domain: cowboystatedaily.com
Wyoming stands at a turning point. For generations, our state has helped power America with the energy and resources that have built industries, secured national strength and kept the lights on across the country.
The Cowboy State produces nearly 12 times more energy than we consume, making us one of the nation’s strongest net energy suppliers. This was not an accident.
Policy makers and political leaders put in place the right tax structures and regulatory environment to make sure Wyoming led the country in coal production and energy development.
The results has been tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars to fund our schools, build our roads and pay for things we need.
However, a new kind of energy demand is rapidly emerging: the critical infrastructure needs of artificial intelligence (AI) and the data centers that make it possible.
If Wyoming chooses to lead and open our doors, this moment could define our economic success for decades to come.
AI isn’t something that is only developed and deployed by or in Silicon Valley. Its footprint is scattered across the country, from research and development labs at universities and start-ups in the Midwest to data centers in the Sunbelt – AI is touching every part of our country.
While AI may still seem abstract to many, behind every AI model lies a physical backbone, including the data centers that store the data to train and deploy models.
Data centers require large-scale power, stable regulatory environments, available land, and communities willing to embrace innovation. Few places in the nation are better positioned to deliver all four than Wyoming.
Our vast energy resources give us a competitive advantage that other states simply cannot match. Natural gas, coal, and emerging nuclear technologies can provide a diverse and resilient power supply. At the same time, our state’s landscape and favorable business climate provide ideal conditions for building data centers.
We are already seeing…
