Data center moratorium

Microsoft data center technician said the job changed his life financially and urged opposing the moratorium.

Presented research on grid instability risks from powerful AI data centers, citing DOE reports and comparisons to Project Jade's scale.

Wyoming AFL-CIO executive director opposed the moratorium on behalf of tradesworkers, arguing it protects the status quo that sent workers on the road.

CPA and business owner spoke against the moratorium, citing economic multipliers of tech investment.

Tradesman cited Meta's $800M investment, the Wyoming Trades Academy, noise and emissions data, and local jobs allowing parents to be home.

Supported the moratorium as a pause, not a stop, citing quality of life and past boom-bust cycles.

IBEW Local 415 president opposed the moratorium, citing 88 Microsoft maintenance jobs, 50 new apprentices, and middle-class careers.

IBEW member called a moratorium a stop sign for the middle class and urged supporting union construction careers.

Presented cited research on diesel emissions, water use, and noise from data centers and said she'd vote against anyone not supporting the moratorium.

Ward 3 pipefitter opposed the moratorium, citing the 2020 refinery closure that cost 80+ jobs and 95% local workforce on the Meta site.

Thomas Heights server technician supported the moratorium, arguing permanent residents bear the costs while transient workers leave.

Pipefitter welder opposed the moratorium, saying Meta brought Wyoming workers home from other states.

Cheyenne LEADS board chair opposed the moratorium as a blunt instrument, saying LEADS selectively declines unsuitable projects.

Speaker and comedian argued for the moratorium on moral grounds, citing AI existential-risk warnings from Geoffrey Hinton.

Resident (and construction industry supplier who has profited from data centers) supported the moratorium for answers and buffer zones.

Detailled noise impacts from Chandler, Arizona and the .1-mile distance from Project Cosmo to nearest homes; warned of ballot consequences.

Supported the moratorium citing health hazards and property-value threats near data centers.

Asked 'how many is too many' and highlighted small trade firms losing workers to Meta/Microsoft wages; supported a pause.

Microsoft employee and Central/LCCC grad opposed the moratorium, saying youth leave without industry jobs.

Ward 1 resident laid out a detailed case for the moratorium — permitted-by-right classification, ISA exemptions, NDAs, rejected ethics ordinance — and requested postponement pending an NLRB investigation of union boycott organizing.

Orchard Valley resident said nobody knew about the data centers until construction started; lost wildlife and dark skies.

Cited health studies on emissions, Legionella risk from closed-loop systems, and noise health effects in support of the moratorium.

Willow Pond resident and military veteran described losing wildlife and Wyoming's character and asked the council to weigh that over GDP growth.

Said she couldn't find the BOPU water-sustainability research the mayor referenced and asked for published safeguards and FAQ.

Opposed the moratorium, arguing AI development will go offshore and that domestic capability matters for oversight.

Supported the moratorium, praised the mayor's listening, and repeated his NLRB investigation request.

Software engineer and union member strongly supported the moratorium, citing Georgia water loss, PFAS sludge, and Memphis xAI generator issues.

Retired fire marshal with 30 years of city service opposed the moratorium, vouching for BOPU and infrastructure capacity.

Supported the moratorium simply to give constituents comfort and answers.

Bluntly supported the moratorium and questioned water disposal, EMFs, and monitoring safeguards.

South-of-town resident worried about wells near a data center, light pollution affecting his son's Orchard Valley home, and AI risks.

1966 Marine veteran asked a single question: what happens to his well water.

Former economic development figure warned a moratorium will brand Cheyenne unreliable, citing the Lowe's recruitment and Chinese competition examples.

State representative corrected data center counts (US leads the world) and water figures, and supported a moratorium with a citizens' oversight committee.

Laborers Local 1271 member and 30-year resident opposed the moratorium, citing family wages and local roots.

Business agent for Local 192 opposed the moratorium, citing downtown business boosts and encouraging young people toward the trades.

Union worker who left for Texas during COVID asked the council to reject the moratorium so workers can stay home.

Wyoming Business Alliance opposed the moratorium, citing declining local jobs and the coal-industry precedent of welcoming growth with reclamation.

Born-and-raised resident supported the moratorium to take time navigating complexity and protecting community legacy.

Ward 2 security professional supported the moratorium, citing national-security risks of clustering data centers, ransomware examples, and reclamation questions.

Read a statement from Wyoming Mining Association director Travis Deti supporting responsible data center development for coal and uranium demand.

Small business owner came opposed but softened after hearing union workers including his son at the Facebook data center; asked for limits on how many are added.

Represented Related Digital, describing DEQ permitting, Black Hills interconnection, BOPU water coordination, Industrial Siting reporting, and the $3.4 million affordable housing contribution.

Supported the moratorium as a pause, noting F.E. Warren growth will bring jobs regardless.

Black Hills Energy explained the large power contract tariff protecting other ratepayers and opposed the moratorium.

Laramie County resident supported the moratorium and asked for a neutral third-party investigation.

Retired Air Force lawyer opposed the moratorium, citing a decade of local data, national security competition with China, and defense of council members' integrity.

Single parent said data center work has opened doors for his family and denied being paid to attend.

Local contractor supported the moratorium, raising NDAA supply-chain compliance and presenting an 800-signature petition.

Returned to read LCCC President Dr. Schaefer's statement on $300,000+ in scholarships and 80+ graduates employed by data center partnerships.

Returned with counts: 10 operating data centers, 5 under construction, 9 announced; described the six-hearing public process and Connect Cheyenne transparency portal.

Small business owner supported the moratorium, citing night-sky impacts and unreported toxic runoff into recycled water.

Ward 1 small business owner and fourth-generation Wyomingite supported the moratorium, asking the council to minimize impacts on permanent residents.

Microsoft energy strategy manager explained ratepayer protections, grid curtailment benefits, and invited the public to Thursday's LCCC session.

Microsoft's Cheyenne operations director described hiring local graduates and speaking at East High's computer science class.

Ward 2 resident supported the moratorium citing land stewardship, CFD, man camps, and strain on first responders.

Supported the moratorium, asking about differences between storage and AI data centers and wildlife/tourism impacts.

Urged transparency, citing Tallgrass/Caruso energy and water estimates comparable to 14,000-17,000 Wyoming households.

Business manager of Local 192 opposed the moratorium, citing 360 members, 118 apprentices, and projected growth to 1,000-1,500 members.

Utility and big-tech veteran opposed the moratorium, noting most US data centers aren't AI-relevant and timelines mean companies would simply go elsewhere.

Ward 2 resident opposed the moratorium, trusting city staff and BOPU, but wants crypto mining carefully regulated for noise.

Supported the moratorium for time, questioned rumor that the mayor is moving to Arizona.

GOP precinct committeeman and machinist supported the moratorium, saying 'we can wait.'

Supported the moratorium, citing Lake Tahoe power shutoffs and undrinkable water in Morgan County, Georgia.

UW computer science grad student supported the moratorium, questioning whether AI's promised capabilities are real and invoking safety-history lessons.

Questioned whether the approval process provides sufficient study of water, power, environment, traffic, and noise impacts given ISA exemptions.

Supported the moratorium, saying listening to Microsoft afterward feels like the cart before the horse.

Ward 1 resident urged a yes vote, noting the moratorium doesn't affect existing or under-construction data centers.

State representative (HD 61) supported the moratorium as a local-control zoning tool, not a permanent ban.

Ward 3 resident opposed the moratorium, saying Cheyenne needs growth to keep his teenagers here after graduation.

Final online commenter delivered 'constructive notice' claiming procedural defects, citing the planning director's admission of lacking a consolidated data center database.

Spoke for the Cheyenne Area Landowners Coalition in favor of the moratorium.