Data Center Moratorium

At a glance

What: Ordinance imposing a temporary twelve-month moratorium on establishing, constructing or converting any building or structure for use as a data center, including any change of use.
Where it stands: Failed on second reading on 2026-05-26, 1-8; only Moody voted yes.
Contention: More than 90 people spoke over two comment periods, from labor, business and development groups, utilities, Microsoft, and residents. The Public Services Committee had made no recommendation.

Emmons advised there was no recommendation from the Public Services Committee and moved approval on second reading, seconded by Moody. The motion failed with every member except Moody voting no.
Speakers (positions are not recorded in the minutes) included the Wyoming State AFL-CIO, Local 415 and Local 192, the Wyoming Business Alliance, Cheyenne LEADS (including Betsey Hale), Microsoft, Related Digital, Black Hills Energy and the Cheyenne Area Land Owner's Coalition, plus residents such as Jim Chiro, Heather Madrid, Katherine McAdams, Richard Lyle and Charles Miller. Multiple points of order were raised that Miller's comments were off subject, and Mayor Collins responded that they were not germane.
Comment was halted by a recess (reconvened 8:50 p.m.) and a second recess ended at 12:01 a.m. Aldrich, Mayor Collins, Emmons, Esquibel, Laybourn, Moody, Rinne, Segrave, White and Wolfe all commented.
First reading, 2026-05-11: introduced (sponsor Moody) and referred to the Public Services Committee.
Related: Microsoft representatives also spoke on the land package in South Greeley Highway Sweetgrass Annexation; the minutes do not state a connection between the two items.

Second reading failed 1-8 after more than 90 speakers.

First reading; referred to the Public Services Committee.

Committee restored data center cooling, noise and sanitary sewer standards (UDC 5.7.1) in the construction-site amendment; the utility board said it is not accepting data center construction or fill-and-flush water until monitoring improves.