Wyoming Joins America's AI Infrastructure Boom
WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2025 - Wyoming is stepping into large-scale AI infrastructure with a $1.2 billion data center campus in Cheyenne from Related Digital, the data center arm of Related Companies. The project is designed for up to 302 megawatts of computing capacity and positions the state as a serious player in the AI data-center market.
On Oct. 7, community and state leaders - including Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins, Related Digital CEO Jeff T. Blau, and Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon - marked the groundbreaking. For real estate and construction teams, this is a clear signal: AI-driven compute demand is converting into long-term leases, deep utility coordination, and steady construction pipelines.
Project Snapshot for Builders and Developers
- Total investment: $1.2 billion across a 115-acre campus in the Cheyenne Business Parkway
- Capacity: Up to 302 MW of compute
- Phase I building: 184,000 square feet, opening late 2026
- Anchor tenant: CoreWeave with a long-term lease for 88 MW
- Jobs and revenue: 700 construction jobs; Phase I projected to generate more than $250 million in state tax revenue over 15 years
- Delivery partners: Clayco (construction) and Black Hills Energy (utility provider)
- Cooling approach: High-efficiency air-cooled chillers to protect Wyoming's limited water resources
Why This Matters for Real Estate and Construction
AI compute demand is translating into power-dense builds, multi-year construction schedules, and anchor-tenant financing that de-risks early phases. Projects like this one create consistency for subcontractors and suppliers across electrical, mechanical, structural steel, precast, controls, and commissioning.
Cheyenne's pro-business posture, available land, and utility coordination support repeatable development. Water-conscious cooling and grid-readiness give the campus a template other Mountain West markets can follow.
Site and Infrastructure Considerations
Power: Coordinating delivery timelines, redundancy, and substation work with the utility is central to schedule control. Expect significant switchgear, transformer, and backup generation packages.
Cooling: Air-cooled chillers reduce water draw but require precise thermal planning, acoustic compliance, and roof/yard space optimization. Mechanical trades should prepare for modular deployments and phased commissioning.
Permitting and codes: Early alignment on electrical safety, battery/backup systems, and noise standards cuts risk. Fast-tracking depends on predictable inspection milestones and transparent change management.
Workforce and supply chain: 700 construction jobs means coordinated craft labor, housing, and logistics. Long lead items (switchgear, chillers, generators) need procurement locked early to protect the 2026 opening.
What Leaders Are Saying
Gov. Mark Gordon said the groundbreaking reflects Wyoming's pro-business culture, adding that "companies that bring jobs, invest in our communities, and use innovation offer smart growth opportunities - and will always have a home here in Wyoming."
Related Companies CEO Jeff T. Blau said the project "will create meaningful tax benefits for the city and state, bring hundreds of construction jobs, support Cheyenne's small businesses, and build the digital infrastructure our country needs."
What to Watch Through 2026
- Grid timelines and redundancy planning with Black Hills Energy
- Procurement of electrical gear, generators, and chiller packages
- Phased commissioning plans tied to tenant ramp schedules
- Local workforce capacity and subcontractor prequalification windows
- Water and energy efficiency metrics that inform future phases
Career and Capability Upside
AI-ready data centers are becoming a core asset class. If you build, design, finance, or operate large industrial or mission-critical projects, now is the time to tighten your playbook for power, cooling, and phased delivery.
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