On Industry Projects: My Position on Large-Scale Development

My priority as a candidate for County Commissioner is to ensure that our way of life in Natrona County remains protected. Whether it’s data centers or energy projects, my approach follows one core rule: local residents should never have to subsidize or suffer the consequences of industrial development.

As we move into the future and our county grows and our need for technology increases, we are seeing more proposals for massive, industrial projects including hyperscale data centers, solar and wind farms, and more. I’ve heard from many of you about the concerns these projects raise, and I want to be clear about where I stand.

My belief is simple: while I am a firm believer in property owners' rights, I am not an absolutist. Your rights end where mine begin, and vice versa. Your neighbor should not be allowed to destroy your peace, health, or safety just because it is their land.

My approach to all industrial projects is guided by three core principles:

1. No Special Treatment

No industrial project should be able to bypass environmental impact studies, nor should they be given special treatment. This applies to all industries, including data centers, oil, gas, wind, solar, and nuclear projects. We must not pick and choose industries to elevate, and we certainly cannot do so at the expense of the health, safety, or peace of the citizenry. No business should be put ahead of another under the law.

2. Local Control and Zoning

While a lot of this falls under the direct control of state government, local county governments can, and should, enforce their zoning. They should not make exceptions to the rules. If current zoning does not address the realities of a project, then the county officials must look at adding the requirements to make the process clear, fair, and rigorous.

If it is shown that the low-frequency sounds from generators or servers are detrimental to community health, or if the noise produced would make living in the area unbearable, that project should not be approved. The county must have safeguards for all industries that prevent large corporations from harming our residents, even if the state refuses to create these rules or lacks the ability to do so quickly.

3. Protecting the Citizen

Let me be very clear: the cost of any necessary grid or gas upgrades must be taken on by the companies themselves. These costs should never be passed on by the natural gas providers or the electric companies to the residents of our state.

These projects cannot pollute our groundwater, consume all of our water, negatively affect the health and well-being of our citizens, or be allowed to have residents subsidize them through increased usage of our grids and massive price increases.

The Bottom Line

If a project is proposed, it must meet all guidelines and go through the same rigorous testing as any other project. I don't care if it is a coal-fired power plant, a gas plant, or a hyperscale data center, they all must follow the same path. Our way of life, our peace, and our safety must always be at the forefront.

Just in case the above is too long-winded, let me be blunt: My position is that the rules we have for industrial projects must be rigorous enough to protect the health, peace, and wallets of the citizens of this state. This must apply to all industries so that we can hold any emergent or existing technology to the same standard. If a project cannot meet these requirements, then the answer is a hard "no," regardless of the project.

I am not interested in lowering our standards for any industry.

Cameron Savage

Candidate for Natrona County Commissioner