Cheyenne / Laramie County — Wyoming
Cheyenne, Laramie County, Wyoming
LOW RISK
Trajectory: No moratorium activity or significant zoning changes in last 12 months.
Last updated 2026-03-29
Investment Thesis
Cheyenne has a dedicated Data Building Code, DC-specific utility tariffs, proactive annexation policy, and no organized opposition. Wyoming House rejected attempt to repeal DC tax exemptions 6-3.
Wyoming has a dedicated Data Building Code, DC-specific utility tariffs, and a legislature that rejected an attempt to repeal data center tax exemptions by 6-3. Cheyenne proactively annexed 923 acres for Microsoft, 960 acres for Meta, and approved a 1,375-acre industrial park for Crusoe/Tallgrass — unanimously. Black Hills Energy operates data center tariff programs starting at 13 MW. The opposition? Scattered concerns about construction noise and water. No project blocked.
Data centers are permitted use in Light Industrial zones. Cheyenne has a dedicated Data Building Code (Chapter 15.24). The city proactively annexes land for DC developers.
Black Hills Energy operates DC-specific tariff programs: 13+ MW large power and 10+ MW blockchain interruptible. 1.5 GW generation capacity. Ready Wyoming 260-mile transmission expansion underway.
Tallgrass is building 2.7 GW of gas generation adjacent to the Crusoe data center site. Laramie County unanimously approved the 1,375-acre Switchgrass Industrial Park.
Wyoming House Revenue Committee rejected HB 88 (repeal DC tax exemptions) by 6-3. The legislature is protecting the industry.
Microsoft has invested $3.1B cumulatively since 2012. One facility produced $200,000+ for local law enforcement.
Inside this score
How the 100 points break down.
Each dimension is scored out of its own weight, and the four add up to the score. A higher score is a clearer market-level path; it is not a likelihood of approval for a parcel.
- Regulatory Riskweight 3024 / 30
What it reads, and where it stops
Measures zoning classification, approval pathway type (by-right, CUP, rezoning), moratorium status, and regulatory trajectory. Higher scores indicate clearer regulatory paths.
Reads the written route and the stated direction of a market's rules as of the edition date. It does not read a particular parcel's zoning, and a rule recorded here can change at the next meeting of the body.
- Infrastructure Readinessweight 2521 / 25
What it reads, and where it stops
Measures utility capacity, grid interconnection availability, water supply adequacy, and infrastructure investment commitments. Higher scores indicate better infrastructure readiness.
Reads the utility, grid, water and investment record for the market. It does not confirm capacity at a given site, and delivery timelines for power and water are separate from entitlement risk.
- Opposition Densityweight 2518 / 25
What it reads, and where it stops
Measures organized opposition groups, petition scale, public hearing attendance, political consequences (elections, recalls), and legal challenges. Higher scores indicate less opposition.
Reads organised opposition that shows on the public record: groups, petitions, hearings, elections and legal challenges. A quiet record is not evidence of support, and a loud one is not a count of votes.
- Approval Timelineweight 2016 / 20
What it reads, and where it stops
Measures historical approval durations, number of sequential approval steps, legal challenges affecting timeline, and demonstrated fast-track capabilities. Higher scores indicate faster approvals.
Reads how long recorded approvals have taken and how many sequential steps they needed. Past duration is a record of what happened, not a schedule for the next application.
24 + 21 + 18 + 16 = 79 of 100 · Low Risk
Dimension Breakdown
How this market scores across four dimensions.
Regulatory Risk
30 pts
Permitted use in LI zones per UDC. City proactively annexed and rezoned: 923 acres for Microsoft, 960 acres for Meta, 1,375 acres for Switchgrass Industrial Park. Dedicated Data Building Code (Chapter 15.24).
Score: 24/30. Permitted use. Proactive annexation. Dedicated Data Building Code. Legislature rejected tax exemption repeal. No moratorium activity.
Infrastructure Readiness
25 pts
Black Hills Energy operates DC-specific tariff programs (13+ MW large power, 10+ MW blockchain interruptible). 1.5 GW generation capacity. Ready Wyoming 260-mile transmission expansion. Tallgrass building 2.7 GW gas generation adjacent to Crusoe site.
Score: 21/25. Black Hills Energy DC-specific tariffs, 1.5 GW generation, 260-mile transmission expansion. Tallgrass building 2.7 GW adjacent. Infrastructure is purpose-built for data centers.
Opposition Density
25 pts
Opposition scattered and unorganized. Hyndman Homesites HOA submitted letter about construction impacts. Farmers raised water concerns. No project blocked, delayed, or forced withdrawal.
Score: 18/25. Scattered and unorganized. Hyndman Homesites HOA letter about construction impacts. Farmer water concerns. No blocking outcomes, but the score is lower than Papillion or Clarksville because documented opposition exists.
Approval Timeline
20 pts
Meta approved November 2023, construction mid-2024. Crusoe/Tallgrass approved unanimously October 2025. Cheyenne LEADS provides business development support.
Score: 16/20. Meta approved November 2023, construction mid-2024. Crusoe/Tallgrass approved unanimously October 2025. Cheyenne LEADS provides business development coordination.
Key Findings
What the evidence supports.
Data centers are permitted use in Cheyenne's Light Industrial zones under the UDC.
City of Cheyenne UDC Article 5Laramie County unanimously approved 1,375-acre Switchgrass Industrial Park for Crusoe/Tallgrass DC and power plant.
Cap City NewsWyoming House Revenue Committee rejected HB 88 (repeal DC tax exemptions) by 6-3 vote.
GovTechIncentives & Programs
Why developers are choosing here.
Wyoming data center sales tax exemption ($5M+ investment)
$5M qualifies for equipment exemption; $50M qualifies for expanded exemption. 30+ states offer comparable or lesser incentives.
SourceMicrosoft $3.1B cumulative investment since 2012
One facility produced $200,000+ for local law enforcement.
SourceDates on the record
Dates on the record.
As of the 29 Mar 2026 edition
No date after the 29 Mar 2026 edition is on the record for Cheyenne.
Only dates that this market's own timeline gives. No outcome is named.
Known Risks
No market is risk-free. Here's what to watch.
The credibility of a favorable score depends on honest risk disclosure. These risks are documented in public records.
Hyndman Homesites HOA raised concerns about construction impacts
Farmers worried about water usage
Electric rate increase fears documented
Recommendation
LOW RISK — Score 79/100
Standard process expected. Proactive local government, dedicated DC infrastructure, and legislative support.
From the record
What the public record holds for Cheyenne.
No verified case file or Jurisdiction Data note is tied to this market yet. The score stands on the sources cited on this page.
Sector page: Data centers
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