Guest columnist Matt Micheli writes, "By embracing data center development, strengthening energy infrastructure, and supporting American technology companies in AI development, we secure economic growth and create more opportunities for Wyoming communities."
June 07, 20265 min read
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 technology companies investing in our state, but capturing that momentum requires intentional policy and thoughtful planning.
The need for reliable power has also been a major boost for Wyoming’s energy economy. For the first time in years, demand from new industries is helping drive increased coal production.
They also create a strong local market for Wyoming natural gas, allowing us to use more of our own resources here at home instead of relying solely on distant markets that are often less supportive of fossil fuels.
Wyoming is uniquely positioned to benefit from this growing demand for reliable, affordable power.
For many communities, data centers have been a point of contention.
Some people raise concerns about the power needs of data centers, but the truth is that these facilities spark far more economic activity than they consume.
Data center investment accounted for 92 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the first half of 2025, despite representing just four percent of total U.S. GDP.
They drive demand for construction, trades, engineering, grid modernization, and long-term operations. They pay tens of millions of dollars in taxes that support our schools, our first responders and our local communities.
They help justify new energy investments like more drilling for natural gas that benefit entire regions, rather than just individual sites. And they send a strong signal to businesses of all kinds that Wyoming is committed to the future.
Wyoming knows how to lead and adapt to these new industries. We know how to protect Wyoming rate payers. We know how to protect Wyoming’s water resources.
Just like when the coal industry or the trona industry or the oil and gas industry came to Wyoming, we can put in place smart policies to protect Wyoming and let Wyoming reap the benefits of this new opportunity.
That means protecting our water resources, protecting Wyoming ratepayers, modernizing our electric infrastructure, supporting flexible permitting processes, and encouraging partnerships between utilities, private developers and local communities.
It also means ensuring that data center growth enriches Wyoming’s workforce through training programs, skilled technical jobs and new opportunities for young people who want to build a future in the Cowboy State.
This issue also reaches far beyond state borders. The global race to lead in AI, particularly against adversaries like China, is rapidly accelerating. Energy and data centers will be a defining factor.
Countries with abundant, reliable, and affordable power will be the ones that shape how AI is developed, deployed and governed.
By expanding our energy capacity and welcoming AI infrastructure, Wyoming can play a critical role in strengthening America’s technological leadership and ensuring that our nation’s values guide the future of AI.
By embracing data center development, strengthening the energy infrastructure, and supporting American technology companies in their AI development, we can secure economic growth, create more opportunities for Wyoming communities, and help write the next chapter of Wyoming’s leadership in American innovation.
Matt Micheli is an attorney in Cheyenne and former chairman of the Wyoming Republican Party.
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