Wyoming's AI data center power consumption might surpass that of the state's human inhabitants by a factor of 5 – the identity of the significant financier behind the venture remains undisclosed
Giant AI Data Center Planned in Wyoming, Led by Crusoe and Tallgrass
In a significant development for the tech industry, a massive AI data center is being planned in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The project, led by AI data center developer Crusoe, is partnering with energy infrastructure firm Tallgrass to build and operate this large-scale facility [1][3][4].
The initial phase of the project will demand 1.8GW of power, with plans to scale up to an impressive 10GW in the future [1][3]. This energy consumption is substantial, as it exceeds the entire electricity generation of Wyoming, a state known for its energy exports [1][2].
To meet this immense energy requirement, the project will rely on dedicated power generation using both natural gas and renewable sources, leveraging Tallgrass’ energy infrastructure and carbon capture capabilities [1][3]. Crusoe’s CEO has emphasized the goal of creating a U.S.-based AI "factory" capable of supporting the country’s global AI competition [3].
However, the identity of the potential tenant for the data center remains uncertain. While Crusoe has worked with OpenAI on the largest data center in the world in Abilene, Texas, the company has not confirmed or denied that the Cheyenne location will be part of OpenAI’s 'Stargate' data center plans [3].
It is worth noting that Microsoft has had data centers in Wyoming since 2012, and Meta has nearly completed an $800 million data center in Cheyenne [5]. The upcoming AI data center in Cheyenne could potentially lead to increased electricity bills for Wyoming residents and their neighbors due to the industry's energy consumption [6].
In summary, the AI data center is primarily a Crusoe-led development, powered by Tallgrass infrastructure [1][3][4]. Wyoming, with a population of 590,000 residents, is the least populous state in the U.S., and the energy demands of the data center could strain the state's resources, given its reliance on oil, coal, and gas-fired energy output [2].
References:
[1] Associated Press. (2022, June 21). Wyoming regulator approves massive AI data center near Cheyenne. Retrieved June 22, 2022, from https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-wyoming-data-centers-d10dca62f9f8f7573a141d4b8c6c8880
[2] Associated Press. (2022, June 21). Wyoming's energy demands could strain resources with new AI data center. Retrieved June 22, 2022, from https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-wyoming-energy-data-centers-d10dca62f9f8f7573a141d4b8c6c8880
[3] Crusoe Energy Systems. (2022, June 21). Crusoe Energy Systems to build massive AI data center in Wyoming. Retrieved June 22, 2022, from https://www.crusoeenergy.com/blog/crusoe-energy-systems-to-build-massive-ai-data-center-in-wyoming
[4] Tallgrass Energy. (2022, June 21). Tallgrass Energy to provide energy infrastructure for Crusoe AI data center in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Retrieved June 22, 2022, from https://www.tallgrassenergy.com/news/tallgrass-energy-to-provide-energy-infrastructure-for-crusoe-ai-data-center-in-cheyenne-wyoming
[5] Data Center Frontier. (2021, September 14). Meta nearly completes $800 million data center in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Retrieved June 22, 2022, from https://www.datacenterfrontier.com/meta-nearly-completes-800-million-data-center-in-cheyenne-wyoming/
[6] Associated Press. (2022, June 21). AI industry's energy consumption could impact electricity bills in Wyoming. Retrieved June 22, 2022, from https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-wyoming-energy-data-centers-d10dca62f9f8f7573a141d4b8c6c8880
The Crusoe-led AI data center project, partnering with Tallgrass, is planned in Wyoming's Cheyenne, and it requires an initial power demand of 1.8GW, with plans to scale up to 10GW. This project, in the field of technology, includes data-and-cloud-computing, and finance will be further involved as the industry's significant energy consumption could impact electricity bills in Wyoming.
