Wyoming's AI data center power consumption may surpass that of the state's human population by five times, with the identity of the significant investor remaining undisclosed.
In the heart of Cheyenne, Wyoming, a groundbreaking AI data center project is underway, but the identity of the tech giant driving the venture remains undisclosed. This colossal project, which could potentially eclipse Wyoming's entire electricity usage, is a joint venture between energy infrastructure company Tallgrass and AI data center developer Crusoe [1][2][3][4][5].
The data center, starting at 1.8GW of power consumption, is designed to scale up to a staggering 10GW. This ambitious expansion would far surpass the electricity consumption of Wyoming's 590,000 residents [1][2][4]. While tech giants like Microsoft and Meta already have data centers in Wyoming, this new data center is not officially linked to either [3].
Industry speculation points towards Microsoft, Meta, or OpenAI as potential tenants or users due to the scale and AI focus of the project. However, no official confirmation has been given as yet [1][3][4]. OpenAI, known for its partnership with Crusoe in the largest data center in the world in Abilene, Texas, has not included Wyoming among its known data center locations [3][5].
The AI data center in Cheyenne could potentially be part of OpenAI's 'Stargate' data center plans, although this connection has not been confirmed [6]. Chris Lehane, the chief global affairs officer of OpenAI, is a key figure in the AI industry [7].
Wyoming, one of the U.S.'s top energy exporters, primarily due to oil, coal, and gas-fired energy output, will need to dedicate a significant portion of its energy production to power this colossal data center, using a mix of gas and renewables [8]. The data center's annual energy consumption for its full 10GW expansion would exceed Wyoming's entire electricity generation [9].
The immense energy consumption of the data center could potentially lead to increased electricity bills for residents and neighboring areas [10][11]. A single gigawatt is enough to power approximately a million homes [12], emphasizing the data center's colossal scale.
Despite the challenges, the data center in Cheyenne is a joint venture between Crusoe, the developer of the AI data center, and Tallgrass, the company responsible for creating the energy infrastructure [13]. The project is also a significant step forward for Wyoming's growing data center ecosystem, with established players like Microsoft and Meta, as well as potential newcomers like OpenAI [2][3][4].
As the project progresses, the identity of the corporate tenant(s) behind the AI operations remains a mystery, adding to the intrigue surrounding this monumental endeavour.
[1] TechCrunch [2] Bloomberg [3] Reuters [4] The Wall Street Journal [5] CNN Business [6] The Verge [7] OpenAI [8] Energy News Network [9] Forbes [10] Ars Technica [11] Gizmodo [12] US Energy Information Administration [13] Tallgrass [14] Crusoe
- The air-cooled AI data center in Cheyenne, Wyoming, with a potential power consumption of 10GW, could significantly impact the environment by initiating increased energy usage that surpasses Wyoming's total electricity generation.
- The downtown Cheyenne data center, despite its enormous energy demands, could play a crucial role in advancing Wyoming's data center industry by attracting tech giants like Microsoft, Meta, or OpenAI, expanding their presence for environmental science, renewable energy, and technological innovations.
- As the colossal Cheyenne data center's plans for energy consumption reach 10GW, data-and-cloud-computing advancements will heavily rely on financial support to sustain investments, drive carbon reduction technologies, and employ renewable resources in the energy mix.
- Chris Lehane, a key figure in the AI industry, could potentially utilize the unnamed corporate tenant's resources in the Cheyenne data center to further OpenAI's 'Stargate' data center network, which may contribute to climate-change research, energy management, and other environmental science initiatives.
