Prometheus Data Center Discussion at the 6‑17‑26 BOCC Meeting

Last night, I attended the Natrona County Board of County Commissioners meeting. I had the opportunity to hear the concerns of our neighbors, many of whom live in Converse County, about the proposed Prometheus hyper‑scale data center in Converse County.

Even though the data center itself is supposed to be in Converse County, the power generation and man camp are proposed to be on this side of the border. Seeing this struggle unfolding on our doorstep is a reminder of how fortunate we are here in Natrona County.

It isn’t luck that keeps heavy industrial projects from destroying our way of life; it’s the foresight of previous County Commissioners. They put zoning regulations in place that clearly define where industrial development belongs and, most importantly, where it does not.

Recently, I was asked to publicly condemn all construction of data centers on or near farmland/residential areas/ranches. I can’t and won’t target a specific industry, and luckily, in Natrona County, because of our zoning, I don’t have to even pretend to. Our zoning protects our farming, ranching, and residential properties when it is enforced. Treating all industries equally isn’t just fair...it is exactly what prevents corruption and stops corporate cronyism in its tracks.

I sometimes forget that not every county in Wyoming has the rigorous protections that our residents do, and I feel sorry for our neighbors in Converse County. I will strive to not allow any industry to cause the residents of Natrona County harm. We as a county must apply rigorous standards so that noise, pollution, and large-scale water use do not put our health, our ranchers, our farmers, or our drinking water resources at risk. We must make certain that our local ranchers and farmers are protected and able to rely on the resources that they have for generations.

I’ve spent my entire adult life in IT, where systems only work when they have clear rules, boundaries, and protections in place to prevent failure. Planning and Zoning is no different. Without strong zoning, communities become vulnerable to irresponsible development that can and will lower property values, threaten health and safety, and permanently change the character of our residential, ranch, and farmlands.

I also know that a lot of the time regulations feel like “red tape.” Many of us choose to live in Wyoming because we want the government to stay out of our business. Even more of us choose to live in the county to get away from what they see as the oppression of the city. But sometimes you have to choose the lesser of two evils: in Natrona County we give up a small amount of our freedom so that our friends and families don’t wake up one morning to a massive industrial nuisance sitting in their backyard, destroying what they’ve built over a lifetime.

As your County Commissioner, my goal will not be to add more regulation just because. My goal will be to maintain the protective framework that helps keep Natrona County a place I want to live. Our local government must protect residents from harm. We cannot allow any industry to jeopardize our land, our health and safety, or our peace.

Most importantly, we need to treat every industry the same under the law; we must not choose one industry over the other or single one out. That is where the real power of our zoning comes in. It makes certain that we must abide by the same rules for all those playing the game. We need elected officials who remember that they are here to protect the people, the Constitution, and our way of life. We need elected officials who don’t want to bypass the rules that are already established to protect our citizenry.

We must remain vigilant. Every project must be vetted individually; we must have high standards that we do not waffle from, and when industry comes to Natrona County, it must follow all of the rules that we have outlined as a community.

Cameron Savage

Candidate, Natrona County Commissioner