Google has announced plans to build its first data center in Wyoming, a long-term USD 17 billion investment in the state.

The project, announced by Steve Walter, VP of Global Infrastructure and Energy, is designed to deliver lasting benefits for Laramie County families and businesses and will be built in partnership with Tallgrass Energy, Black Hills Energy, American Electric Power (AEP), and Related Digital.

A first-of-its-kind fuel cell project

Central to the project's energy strategy is a contracted arrangement with AEP featuring what Google describes as a first-of-its-kind, commercial-scale, 702 MW fuel cell development with carbon capture and storage (CCS), the largest planned development of its kind to date.

The fuel cells convert natural gas into electricity through an electrochemical reaction and will be made in America by Bloom Energy. According to Google, this approach will help minimize emissions and water use in the production of energy for its data infrastructure.

The CCS technology will enable the capture and permanent geologic storage of a large majority of the carbon emissions at Tallgrass Energy's nearby Eastern Wyoming Sequestration Hub. This project builds on the company's first CCS project in the U.S., announced last fall, and brings Google's total contracted CCS capacity to nearly 1 gigawatt.

In addition to the fuel cell development, Google is sourcing power from gas generators operated by Tallgrass Energy and Black Hills Energy and is conducting a technical front-end engineering and design (FEED) study to evaluate fitting Tallgrass's combined cycle turbines with CCS technology.

The company characterized these combined efforts as a novel approach to powering data centers efficiently, accelerating the commercialization of CCS, and creating pathways to reduce the carbon emissions associated with natural gas generation.

Water stewardship and air cooling

Google stated that it remains committed to using water responsibly and investing in local water replenishment efforts. Consistent with its water stewardship commitments for local communities, the Wyoming data center will be air-cooled to minimize strain on local water resources.

The company also emphasized its commitment to responsible growth, stating it will pay for 100% of the power it uses and will cover infrastructure needs directly driven by its growth when building data centers.

Community engagement in Cheyenne

Google and its partners have held numerous meetings and are continuously engaging stakeholders at the local and state level. The company recently hosted a community meeting in downtown Cheyenne, where it spoke with and met more than 200 residents of Laramie County, gathering feedback on their priorities.

Residents asked for a holistic picture of the project's economic benefits. Google said it expects the project to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in local property taxes for Laramie County and School District 1.

This is in addition to the company's community investment plans, which will focus on initiatives in K-12 education, workforce development, and pathways to accelerate Wyoming's economy.

Community members also requested additional information on career and job-skilling opportunities. Through targeted grants, Google is partnering with key local institutions championing STEM education, supporting local entrepreneurs, and expanding skilled trades training across the state.

The company has already hosted its first Community Day at the Cheyenne Children's Museum and said it looks forward to sharing more about its community partnerships in the coming weeks.

A key concern raised at the community meeting stretched beyond the boundaries of Google's own project, how data center growth is impacting Cheyenne as a community. In response, Google, Tallgrass Energy, Black Hills Energy, Related Digital, AEP, and Bloom Energy are standing up a Community Council, which Google said is designed to develop ongoing engagement on these issues.

Expected impact

Google framed the investment as one intended to support thousands of jobs and generate significant labor income for local families and businesses, while also funding local education, workforce development, and community initiatives to support growth in the region.

The company said it aims to help the community grow alongside its technology and expects the project to provide lasting economic benefits across the state.

Residents seeking more information about community partnerships and upcoming career opportunities can visit Google's website or attend local community meetings in Cheyenne.

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